A former Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, has said President Bola Tinubu will ruin Abuja and relocate the Federal Capital Territory to Lagos if allowed to return into office in 2027.

Mr Amaechi, who stated this during a protest in Abuja on Wednesday, said the African Democratic Congress was committed to unseating the All Progressives Congress in 2027 like as the ruling party defeated the Peoples Democratic Party in 2015.

The politician stated, “APC chased PDP out. It is our time to chase APC out of power. If you allow them to continue, they will ruin this capital or take it to Lagos. So you must vote them out of power.”

The ADC staged #OccupyINEC protest in Abuja on Wednesday following the commission’s derecognition of its leaders amid leadership crisis.

Prominent ADC leaders, including Mr Amaechi, Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, Rabiu Kwankwaso, David Mark, Rauf Aregbesola and others, attended the rally, insisting that Mr Tinubu must be chased out of power. 

Mr Amaechi, who accused Mr Tinubu of killing the country’s democracy, claimed that the APC was afraid of losing the forthcoming elections.

“APC said they are popular. Why are they afraid of elections? Tinubu said he is a leader of NADECO. Why is he killing democracy? In 2015, APC enjoyed Jega who was the best and still remains the best INEC chairman,” he stated.

The politician also faulted the appointment of Joash Amupitan as INEC chairman, alleging attempts to stifle and render opposition useless ahead of the elections.

Mr Amaechi added, “President Tinubu went to appoint someone who is a lawyer. Anyone who can protect his reputation has no business in INEC. I am ashamed of the INEC chairman. He started first by making sure parties were not registered because they’re afraid that they would lose elections. Whether they like it or not, they will lose the elections. 

The ADC chieftain also accused Mr Tinubu of creating unemployment in the country, urging Nigerians to snub the ruling APC in the forthcoming elections.

“Tinubu is creating unemployment in Nigeria. If Nigerians allow them, they will continue. Imagine the president who changed the national anthem immediately he came into power. I have given my contribution; it’s left for you to do the needful,” the politician said.

Efforts by the Peoples Gazette to get reactions from Mr Tinubu’s media aides on Mr Amaechi’s claims were unsuccessful as their mobiles were unreachable as of the time this report was filed. 

Meanwhile, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, in a statement on X on Wednesday, dismissed the protest as a blackmail, insisting that the ruling APC could not be bullied into doing the opposition party’s bidding at all cost. 

Mr Keyamo stated, “So, the survival of our democracy is now anchored on the recognition of one faction of one of the 21 registered political parties we have in this country? The same faction, even when recognised, could not win a single council seat in the just-concluded FCT election? Democracy now means their own logic in the media space must be accepted and our judiciary processes ignored?  These fellows think they can blackmail everyone to do their bidding at all cost COST. Unfortunately for them, Nigerians are not so gullible.”