Former Rivers State Governor and African Democratic Congress ADC vice-presidential candidate Rotimi Amaechi has said he would withdraw from the party’s 2027 presidential ticket and campaign for President Bola Tinubu if petrol sells for ₦600 per litre.
Amaechi made the statement while discussing the Federal Government’s economic policies and the rising cost of living during a television interview.
The former Minister of Transportation questioned the claim that Nigerians were already entering an era of economic prosperity, arguing that the impact of government reforms should be measured by the conditions ordinary citizens experience...READ THE FULL ARTICLE HERE .
Amaechi challenged the Tinubu administration to demonstrate the impact of its economic reforms by reducing the price of petrol.
He said he was prepared to personally visit a filling station to confirm the pump price and would change his political position if petrol had fallen to ₦600 per litre.
He also invited anyone who doubted his statement to accompany him and record the exercise.
According to Amaechi, if the price reached the stated level, he would withdraw as former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s running mate on the ADC ticket and campaign for Tinubu ahead of the 2027 election.
The ADC vice-presidential candidate also questioned whether Nigerians were experiencing meaningful relief from the economic reforms introduced by the Tinubu administration.
He pointed to transportation costs and the prices of goods and services as areas where many citizens continue to feel pressure.
Amaechi argued that government promises should ultimately be reflected in the daily experiences of Nigerians, particularly in the cost of transportation and other essential expenses.
His comments came after Tinubu’s Independence Day address in which the President said the country was entering an “age of prosperity.”
Amaechi is currently the ADC’s vice-presidential candidate alongside Atiku Abubakar, who is the party’s presidential candidate for the 2027 election.
His statement therefore attracted attention because it directly addressed the possibility of abandoning the ticket under the condition he outlined.
He said the reduction of petrol prices to ₦600 per litre would be sufficient for him to reconsider his current political position and support Tinubu instead.
Petrol pricing has remained a major issue in Nigeria’s political and economic debate since the removal of the petrol subsidy in 2023.
The policy led to a substantial increase in fuel prices and contributed to higher transportation and living costs, while the Federal Government has continued to defend the reform as necessary for reducing the financial burden of fuel subsidies.
Political parties and candidates have subsequently offered different approaches to addressing the cost of petrol and its wider impact on the economy.
Amaechi’s ₦600 benchmark adds another dimension to the ongoing debate over whether government policies are delivering measurable relief to Nigerians.
During the same discussion, Amaechi raised broader concerns about the administration’s economic policies and governance.
He argued that Nigerians should judge government policies by their practical impact on households and communities rather than by official declarations about economic progress.
He also criticised the administration over issues including taxation, transportation costs and the wider financial pressures facing citizens.
Amaechi’s comments come as political parties continue preparations for the 2027 general elections, with economic conditions expected to remain a major subject of political debate.
For now, his stated condition is clear: he says a reduction in petrol prices to ₦600 per litre would prompt him to withdraw from Atiku Abubakar’s ticket and campaign for President Tinubu.
