Vice-presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Rotimi Amaechi, has said that most Nigerians may not survive another term of President Bola Tinubu if he is re-elected in the 2027 presidential election.
Amaechi made the statement on Friday, October 2, 2026, during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today, while criticising the Federal Government’s economic policies and the rising cost of living.
He noted that Nigerians are already struggling with the consequences of fuel subsidy removal, rising transportation costs, increased rents, taxes, and the high cost of drugs.
“Most people won’t be alive if they win the second tenure,” Amaechi said, referring to a possible second term for Tinubu.
He argued that many Nigerians no longer have meaningful choices because of the economic hardship confronting them.
“People are tired. They are hungry,” he said, stressing that the immediate concern for many Nigerians was survival.
Amaechi particularly criticised the removal of fuel subsidy, saying the policy had contributed to higher transportation and food costs.
He questioned where the funds saved from the subsidy removal had gone, saying, “Where are those funds that are supposed to be the outcome of removal of subsidy? Where are they? The essence of removing subsidy is to better the lives of Nigerians. Where is the money? I want to feel it. Everybody wants to feel it.”
The former Rivers State governor also faulted the administration’s claim of economic progress, asserting that economic growth figures did not necessarily reflect improvements in the lives of ordinary Nigerians.
“How many people are able to feed? How many children are in school? How many parents are able to afford school fees?” he asked.
Amaechi stated that the ADC ticket of presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar and himself would focus on security, the economy, and education, which he described as interconnected areas requiring urgent attention.
He also proposed what he called a production subsidy for petroleum products, saying the policy would encourage domestic refining and reduce dependence on imported fuel.
According to him, supporting local refineries would create jobs through the construction and operation of refineries while reducing the cost of petroleum products.
Amaechi disclosed that the proposed approach would also involve existing modular refineries, emphasising that Nigerians could begin to feel the effects of the policy within one year.
“I say to Nigerians, give us one year. If you don’t begin to feel the change, I will leave,” he remarked.
On education, Amaechi pledged that the ADC administration would make education accessible and affordable but acknowledged that free education across the board might not be immediately achievable.
He also outlined job creation, agriculture, and social housing as areas through which the proposed administration would seek to stimulate the economy.
On insecurity, Amaechi recalled that his experience as Rivers State governor had shown him that economic hardship could contribute to criminal activity.
He pointed out that his administration responded by creating jobs, building schools and primary healthcare centres, employing medical personnel, and training police officers.
The former Minister of Transportation maintained that addressing insecurity would require both economic intervention and improved security capacity.
Amaechi further stated that corruption would have to be tackled because public resources were needed to address the country’s problems.
The ADC vice-presidential candidate equally challenged Nigerians to assess the current administration based on whether they could actually feel improvements in their daily lives.
“Economics is simple. What is in my mind? What I can feel? Or how much I can provide for myself?”
He added that the proposed ADC government would be judged by its ability to improve the living conditions of Nigerians, while reiterating his one-year benchmark for visible change.
