Former Minister of Transportation and presidential aspirant of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Rotimi Amaechi, has stirred fresh national debate after saying he would scrap the federal character principle and replace it with a citizenship-based system if elected president in 2027.
Amaechi made the comments while appearing before the ADC Presidential Screening Committee in Abuja on Wednesday. He argued that Nigeria should move away from identity-driven politics and focus instead on competence, performance, and fairness in leadership selection.
According to him, the idea of federal character exists mainly because the system is already unfair and needs to be managed. He insisted that Nigerians should no longer be defined by ethnicity, region, or religion when it comes to opportunities and leadership positions.
In his words, “There will be no federal character. A very good Nigerian will be a member of the Federation… I am not from South, East or West. I am a Nigerian. If I become president, I will not bring indigeneship. There will be citizenship.”
The former Rivers State governor also blamed unemployment and economic hardship for rising insecurity in the country, including kidnapping, saying many young people are being pushed into crime because of poor economic conditions.
Amaechi further stated that he would not accept a vice-presidential position, saying clearly, “I don’t want to be vice.” However, he added that he would respect the decision of the party if it eventually settles on a consensus candidate through a fair process involving all aspirants.
He also expressed confidence in his chances during the screening, pointing to his years in public office as proof of his readiness. Reflecting on his time as governor, he highlighted reforms in education and healthcare in Rivers State, including improved school enrolment, recruitment of hundreds of doctors, and the introduction of free healthcare services across communities.
Elijah Adeyemi
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