Amaechi Reveals Buhari Refused Electoral Bill Over Russia Hacking Fears

Former Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi has claimed that Nigeria missed a critical opportunity to reform its electoral system due to fears of foreign interference, specifically citing concerns that Russia could manipulate the voting process.

Amaechi stated that former President Muhammadu Buhari refused to sign the Electoral Bill after being persuaded that signing it could allow a foreign actor to install a preferred candidate. He made the remarks on Thursday while addressing members of the opposition during a political meeting.

The former Rivers State governor blamed Nigeria’s political challenges not only on those in power but also on the weakness of opposition parties and poor civic resistance. He emphasized that the failure of citizens and political actors to organize against bad governance has worsened the country’s situation.

“All I wanted to say is that Tinubu is not our problem. The problem is your position,” Amaechi said. “We are our own problem. When the position is ready, Nigeria will change. The first thing we must know is that we must separate ourselves from the government in power.”

He urged opposition parties to draw a clear line between themselves and the ruling government if meaningful political change is to occur, highlighting that opposition must define its own identity independent of the powers that be.

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Amaechi revealed that Buhari once showed interest in electoral reform, but that some ministers later persuaded him not to sign the bill. He alleged that these ministers warned Buhari that signing could result in Russia hacking the system and imposing the wrong president, leading the former president to withhold approval.

“I will repeat what I said in one of these conferences. I said to them that when I was in government in Buhari’s time, Buhari wanted electoral reform,” Amaechi said. “So a few ministers went to him, convinced him not to sign… And he refused to sign. The same people are now shouting electoral reform.”

Amaechi did not disclose the names of the ministers nor present evidence to support the claim. He also predicted that the current administration may soon begin advocating for electoral reforms, saying, “Tinubu will one day shout for electoral reform. He will. If he doesn’t, those supporting him will.”

The former minister further accused political leaders of testing public reaction in stages, suggesting that when citizens fail to resist minor actions, it emboldens the government to take larger steps.

“His strategy is simple. His pattern is simple. He tried something today, you are weak. He put something bigger, you are weaker,” Amaechi said.

He also criticized the government’s approach to corruption allegations, questioning how leaders travel abroad for ceremonies while citizens protest misappropriation of public funds. “Which president goes to France to give an award? Which president goes to France when you are shouting, ‘Oh, this man is stealing our money?’” he asked. “You are stealing our money, and he still goes to that place. He’s asking, what will you do? You can do what? The day you show him you can do something, God will bless him.”

Amaechi concluded by stating that he spoke only uncomfortable truths about Nigeria’s political condition. “I think, like every other person, I’ve said what needs to be said,” he added.

Amaechi Reveals Buhari Refused Electoral Bill Over Russia Hacking Fears

I Regret Helping to Remove Jonathan in 2015 — Atiku

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has admitted that he regrets being part of the political coalition that formed the All Progressives Congress (APC) and removed Goodluck Jonathan from office in the 2015 presidential election, saying Nigeria’s insecurity and economic challenges have worsened under the party’s leadership.

Atiku made the remarks on Thursday in Abuja during a joint press conference by opposition political parties convened to protest the amended 2026 Electoral Act, which allows the use of both manual and electronic transmission of election results. Opposition leaders argue that the provision could weaken electoral transparency by encouraging manual processes under claims of network failure.

“I regret being among those who helped form the APC in 2014 to remove Goodluck Jonathan from office,” Atiku said, adding that the country’s situation has deteriorated rather than improved under the current administration.

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He recalled that the APC was formed amid widespread concerns about rising insecurity, economic hardship and democratic governance under the then-ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). According to him, the opposition alliance believed it could correct those challenges and strengthen democracy but ended up failing to meet expectations.

“We came together in 2014 because we felt democracy was faulty, only for us to end up in the same position we found ourselves in then — and even worse,” Atiku stated.

The former vice president stressed that insecurity, which was one of the main issues ahead of the 2015 elections, has expanded across more parts of Nigeria, while economic indicators such as inflation, unemployment, poverty and cost of living have significantly worsened.

“In 2014, the major challenges were insecurity and the economy. Now, those problems are worse than what we fought against,” he added.

Atiku, who served as vice president from 1999 to 2007 under Olusegun Obasanjo, urged opposition parties to unite ahead of the 2027 general elections, warning that Nigeria’s democratic decline could have wider consequences beyond its borders.

“The collapse of democracy in Nigeria will lead to the collapse of democracy in Africa because Nigeria is the largest democracy on the continent,” he said. “We must restore true democracy to our country.”

Several prominent opposition figures attended the press conference, including former Anambra State governor Peter Obi, former Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi, former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai, former Osun State governor Rauf Aregbesola, and Ajuji Ahmed, national chairman of the New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP).

A six-time presidential candidate and a chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku is increasingly positioning himself as a key figure in a growing opposition alliance seeking to challenge the ruling APC in the 2027 polls.

I Regret Helping to Remove Jonathan in 2015 — Atiku

Breaking: Ahmadu Fintiri Joins APC, Weakens PDP in North-East

In a significant political shake-up in Nigeria, Adamawa State Governor Ahmadu Fintiri has officially defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), delivering a major blow to the opposition and reshaping the country’s political landscape ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Governor Fintiri announced his defection during a statewide broadcast on Friday, stating that his decision was driven by what he described as the developmental interest of the people of Adamawa State. The move signals a new phase of political alignment between Adamawa and the federal ruling party.

The governor did not defect alone. Several members of his cabinet and key PDP officials in Adamawa State also joined the APC, marking a sweeping political shift within the state. The development significantly weakens the PDP’s structure in one of its notable strongholds in the North-East.

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The defection follows weeks of mounting speculation after multiple members of the Adamawa State House of Assembly — including the Speaker and Deputy Speaker — resigned from the PDP. Most of the lawmakers are expected to align with the APC, potentially strengthening the ruling party’s legislative grip in the state.

Political observers describe the development as a major strategic victory for the APC, particularly in the North-East region. Adamawa has long been politically associated with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, making the governor’s move even more consequential within national political calculations.

The defection comes amid increasing political realignments in Nigeria, as governors, lawmakers and influential party figures reposition ahead of the next electoral cycle. Analysts say such shifts could significantly influence party strength, coalition building and campaign strategies in the lead-up to 2027.

With this move, the APC expands its influence across more states, while the PDP faces renewed internal pressure to stabilize its ranks and prevent further defections.

As of press time, the national leadership of the PDP had not issued an official response to the development.

Breaking: Ahmadu Fintiri Joins APC, Weakens PDP in North-East