Buhari Promised Me APC Presidential Ticket in 2022 – Amaechi

Former Minister of Transportation and former Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, has opened up about the circumstances surrounding his defeat at the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential primary in 2022, alleging that late President Muhammadu Buhari promised to make him the party’s preferred presidential candidate.

Amaechi said he made a significant political mistake by trusting Buhari’s assurance and following his advice not to campaign aggressively or engage in political negotiations ahead of the primary election.

The former governor made the revelation during an interview on Mainland 98.3FM’s The Situation Room programme in Lagos on Friday, November 6, 2026, where he reflected on the events that shaped the APC’s presidential nomination contest.

According to Amaechi, Buhari personally assured him that he would announce him as his preferred candidate, giving him the impression that the former president’s endorsement would put him in a strong position to secure the party’s ticket.

He further claimed that the assurance was not merely a verbal conversation, insisting that Buhari also put his promise in writing.

Speaking about the experience, Amaechi described listening to the former president as the first major mistake he made during the contest.

“The first mistake that I made at that primary was that I listened to President Buhari. He said to me, ‘Don’t campaign. Don’t do anything. I will announce you as my candidate.’

“He told me that. He put it in writing. When I write my book, I’ll put it out,” Amaechi said.

The former transportation minister explained that he believed Buhari because he considered him his superior and trusted that an endorsement from the president would significantly improve his chances of emerging as the APC candidate.

However, the outcome of the primary eventually left him disappointed, as Bola Tinubu secured the party’s presidential nomination after defeating several prominent politicians who were also interested in succeeding Buhari.

Amaechi regrets missing political opportunities

Amaechi also explained how his decision to rely on Buhari’s alleged promise affected his approach to the presidential contest.

According to him, he could have negotiated with influential governors and other party stakeholders by offering them important positions in a possible administration.

He specifically mentioned the positions of Vice-President and Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), arguing that such political arrangements could have helped him attract more support before the primary.

Amaechi suggested that his unwillingness to make these commitments weakened his chances, especially when other presidential aspirants were actively building relationships and securing the backing of influential political figures.

He believes that had he entered into those negotiations, he might have secured the support of more governors and strengthened his position among delegates.

“Now, I didn’t do deals. So I would have promised you vice-president, promised you SGF, and then would have gone for this primary, I would have possibly won. I would have had governors on my side.

“Because I didn’t do deals, Tinubu had the chance to do deals,” he added.

His comments provide another account of the political calculations behind the 2022 APC presidential primary, which was one of the most closely watched contests in the build-up to the 2023 general election.

The nomination process involved several heavyweight politicians, with the party facing pressure to settle on a candidate capable of succeeding Buhari after eight years in office.

Amaechi’s latest revelation also raises questions about the influence of presidential endorsements in party primaries and whether assurances from influential political leaders can be relied upon when competing interests are involved.

He has maintained that his decision to trust Buhari’s position affected the strategy he adopted during the contest.

Amaechi accuses Tinubu’s camp of using religious sentiments

Beyond his allegations against Buhari, Amaechi also spoke about the role of religion in the 2022 APC presidential primary.

The former governor accused Tinubu’s political camp of benefiting from religious sentiments while seeking support from delegates, particularly in the northern part of the country.

He alleged that a delegation of Yoruba Muslims from the South-West visited governors in the North-West and appealed to them to support Tinubu because of their shared religious identity.

According to Amaechi, the delegation argued that northern Muslims had previously supported southern Christian candidates during elections and should reciprocate by backing a southern Muslim candidate.

He claimed that the appeal formed part of the political mobilisation that helped Tinubu attract support from influential figures in the North.

Amaechi also mentioned former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, whom he said had initially supported his presidential ambition before eventually backing Tinubu.

He referred to a viral video in which El-Rufai allegedly linked his position to religious considerations.

“El-Rufai was my supporter. El-Rufai, in a viral video, said this is done for the faith,” Amaechi stated.

However, the former governor insisted that he would not adopt religious mobilisation as a strategy to secure political support, arguing that such an approach could deepen divisions in Nigeria.

He maintained that political leaders should seek support across religious and ethnic boundaries rather than encourage voters to identify with candidates simply because they share the same faith.

To illustrate his position, Amaechi referred to the Catholic community, arguing that he would not approach church leaders and ask them to mobilise their members to vote for him because of their religious affiliation.

He warned that such political practices could create unnecessary tension and undermine national unity.

For Amaechi, refusing to exploit religious differences is part of his understanding of nationalism and the kind of country he believes Nigeria should become.

How Tinubu defeated Amaechi in 2022

The APC presidential primary took place at Eagle Square in Abuja in June 2022, attracting 14 presidential aspirants, including Tinubu, Amaechi, then Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo and former Senate President Ahmad Lawan.

Tinubu emerged victorious after securing 1,271 votes, comfortably defeating his closest challenger, Amaechi, who finished second with 316 votes.

Osinbajo came third with 235 votes, while Lawan received 152 votes.

The result confirmed Tinubu as the APC’s presidential candidate for the 2023 general election and ended the ambitions of other prominent contenders within the ruling party.

Tinubu subsequently won the February 2023 presidential election and succeeded Buhari as Nigeria’s president in May of that year.

Amaechi’s defeat was particularly significant because of his previous relationship with Buhari. He had served as the director-general of Buhari’s successful 2015 presidential campaign and later became Minister of Transportation under his administration.

His position within the former president’s political circle made the latest allegation particularly noteworthy, especially as he now claims that an assurance from Buhari influenced his decisions during the contest.

Amaechi has said he intends to make the alleged written communication public when he publishes his book. However, the document has not been publicly presented alongside his latest claims.

Amaechi’s political journey after the APC primary

Following his unsuccessful presidential bid, Amaechi gradually moved away from the political position he occupied within the APC during Buhari’s administration.

The former Rivers governor has remained an influential figure in Nigerian politics, with his experience in party organisation, governance and national political campaigns continuing to attract attention.

He is now associated with the African Democratic Congress (ADC), where he has emerged as a prominent opposition figure ahead of the 2027 general election.

His latest comments come at a politically important period as conversations about alliances, presidential ambitions and the future of opposition politics continue to shape Nigeria’s political landscape.

By revisiting the 2022 primary, Amaechi has offered his personal explanation of why he believes he lost an election he thought he was well-positioned to win.

His account places considerable emphasis on trust, political negotiations and the importance of securing support from influential party members before a major electoral contest.

Whether Buhari’s alleged written assurance will eventually be included in Amaechi’s promised book remains to be seen. For now, his remarks have brought renewed attention to the internal political calculations that surrounded the APC’s decision to nominate Tinubu in 2022.