Former Minister of Transportation and vice-presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, has thrown down a high-stakes challenge to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, offering to withdraw his candidacy and openly campaign for the president’s re-election if the price of Premium Motor Spirit (petrol) drops to ₦600 per litre.
Amaechi made the daring declaration on Friday evening, October 2, 2026, during a live appearance on Channels Television’s flagship political program, Politics Today, hosted by anchor Seun Okinbaloye.
The former Rivers State governor, running on a joint ticket with presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar under the banner of the ADC, dismissed claims by the current administration that its economic reforms were yielding positive outcomes for ordinary citizens.
”Don’t bother about my views; I will go tomorrow morning to a petrol station myself so that you can see,” Amaechi declared. “If fuel has come down to ₦600, I will campaign for President Tinubu. If you are doubtful, come with your camera tomorrow in the morning to my house, and I will go to a filling station and buy fuel. I, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, will withdraw as the vice-presidential candidate of Atiku and campaign for President Tinubu if it has come down.”
Highlighting the economic pressure on average Nigerians, Amaechi sharply criticized the administration’s narrative of progress following fuel subsidy removals and structural reforms.
”Has any price come down? Has anything changed?” he questioned. “Have you asked one of your staff who goes by transport how much it costs from Nyanya to Abuja?”
Amaechi framed the upcoming 2027 presidential election in stark terms, arguing that voters face a choice dictated by economic survival. He further accused the administration of failing to deliver tangible infrastructure projects compared to previous governments, challenging officials to point out completed national rail lines initiated over the past three years.
As of Friday evening, neither the Presidency nor the official spokespersons for the All Progressives Congress (APC) had issued a formal response to Amaechi’s challenge.
However, government representatives have consistently defended the administration’s fiscal reforms, maintaining that the elimination of fuel subsidies was essential to prevent financial collapse and redirect resources toward key national public services.
