A former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, has alleged that ex-President Goodluck Jonathan and his wife, Patience, forced him out of the Peoples Democratic Party during the height of political tensions in Rivers State.
Amaechi made the claim on Friday while speaking on The Morning Brief, a breakfast programme on Channels Television, where he recounted what he described as a pattern of political victimisation across parties.
According to the former Rivers State governor, the leadership of the PDP at the time, led by Jonathan and his wife, allegedly seized control of the party’s structure in the state and sidelined him.
“I was practically pushed out of the PDP. The president and his wife took over the political machinery in Rivers and edged me out,” he said.
Amaechi, who defected from the PDP in 2013 following his suspension over alleged anti-party activities, also stated that his experience in the All Progressives Congress was not different, claiming he faced similar treatment before exiting the party in 2025.
He maintained that his outspokenness against perceived injustice had consistently put him at odds with political authorities.
“Anytime I speak against wrongdoing, there are moves to silence or sideline me. But I will not keep quiet in the face of injustice,” he added.
The chieftain of the African Democratic Congress further disclosed his readiness to back former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar if he emerges as the party’s presidential candidate ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Amaechi, however, advised that beyond constitutional eligibility, considerations such as age and capacity should be weighed in determining leadership suitability.
While acknowledging Atiku’s qualifications, he stressed the need for broader evaluation criteria in choosing Nigeria’s next president.
He also dismissed the relevance of zoning in the country’s political arrangement, insisting that merit should take precedence over regional considerations.
“What should matter is competence. Leadership should not be reduced to north or south sentiments,” Amaechi said.