Former Rivers State governor and ex-Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi has formally joined the African Democratic Congress after completing his registration at Ward 8 in Ubima, located in Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State, on Friday morning.
The registration came shortly after the party’s office in the community was set on fire by unidentified individuals in the early hours of the same day.
Residents reportedly woke up to the blaze, which destroyed part of the ADC office and caused panic across the neighbourhood. As of the time Amaechi completed his registration, no arrests had been made in connection with the incident.
While addressing supporters who gathered to welcome him, Amaechi urged his followers to remain peaceful despite the attack on the party’s facility.
“Don’t be violent because violence may lead to the death of somebody, don’t be violent. At the same time, they can’t stop us from meeting in our community,” he said.
Despite the tense situation in the area, the former minister commended the professionalism displayed by security operatives deployed to maintain order. He specifically praised the state commissioner of police and the director of the Department of State Services for their conduct during the situation.
“We thank the commissioner of police and the director of DSS; they showed a lot of professionalism. In fact, I wasn’t expecting that from them; I thought they would be behind the criminals,” Amaechi added.
He further called on security agencies to quickly identify and prosecute those responsible for the attack, warning that attempts to intimidate the party would not stop its political activities in the community.
Amaechi’s move to the ADC is seen as a significant boost for the opposition party as it intensifies preparations ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections.
What you should know
Rotimi Amaechi is a prominent Nigerian politician who served as governor of Rivers State from 2007 to 2015 and later as Minister of Transportation from 2015 to 2022.
A key figure in national politics, he was once a leading member of the All Progressives Congress before pursuing his presidential ambition in 2023.
His decision to formally register with the African Democratic Congress signals a strategic political shift as opposition parties begin to position themselves ahead of the 2027 general elections in Nigeria.
