Former Rivers State governor and ex-minister of transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, says he has been the target of verbal attacks from supporters of Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, but has deliberately chosen not to respond in order to maintain peace.
Amaechi made the remarks on Friday during a town hall meeting in Lagos organised by his supporters under the African Democratic Congress (ADC) progressive movement.
According to him, he has consistently instructed his followers to avoid engaging in online abuse and instead focus on presenting facts when debating political issues.
“My people don’t fight. You hardly see my supporters exchanging insults online. The back-and-forth is mostly between Atiku’s supporters and Obi’s supporters. Yes, Obi’s supporters insult me, but we don’t respond,” he said.
He explained that his restraint is intentional, noting that responding to such attacks could deepen divisions within the opposition.
“It’s not that we don’t know how to reply. We choose not to because we want peace,” he added.
Amaechi emphasised that maintaining civility is key to building unity ahead of future elections, warning that unnecessary hostility could make it harder for opposition figures to work together.
“There are things you avoid saying if you want to win. It becomes difficult to unite people when there’s too much friction. Since we believe we can win, we’re careful not to attack others,” he said.
He also revealed that members of his political camp have been given strict instructions not to insult anyone within the ADC or even the president, urging them instead to focus on factual arguments.
Amaechi, who contested the presidency under the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2023 and later joined the ADC in March 2026, is seeking the party’s presidential ticket ahead of the 2027 elections alongside Peter Obi and former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar.
At the event, he called on Nigerians to objectively compare his track record with that of his rivals, highlighting his experience as both a governor and a minister.
“Compare my performance with others. If Peter Obi did better as a governor, choose him. If the former vice-president performed better in his role, choose him,” he said.
He described himself as a hands-on leader who prioritised fieldwork over bureaucracy, citing his involvement in infrastructure projects during his tenure as minister.
“I was actively on project sites, ensuring work was done. I didn’t just sit in an office reading reports,” he said.
Amaechi also warned that internal divisions among opposition supporters could weaken their chances in future elections, urging them to remain focused on shared political goals.
“If there’s too much conflict, it will be difficult to unite and win. Support your preferred candidate during the primaries, but avoid creating divisions that could affect the bigger objective,” he said.