Amaechi Says He, Not Tinubu, Delivered Buhari’s 2015 Victory

Context Former Rivers State governor and ex‑Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi appeared on Arise News’ *Prime Time* to address Bola Tinubu’s repeated statements that he “made Buhari president.” Tinubu, now president, has used the claim to bolster his own political narrative ahead of future elections. Amaechi, now a presidential hopeful under the African Democratic Congress, seized the interview to rewrite the story of the 2015 victory.

Key Facts Amaechi explained that, while serving as a minister in Buhari’s government, he could not publicly dispute Tinubu’s assertions without risking dismissal. He said, “When we decided to form the APC, while I was a minister, Tinubu was claiming he made Buhari president and I couldn’t respond because I was a minister under President Buhari. That would have been suicidal because Buhari could fire you.”

He then rejected the claim outright: “He didn’t make President Buhari president. Not only was I the DG of the campaign, but everybody will bear witness that I did all the battle.” As Director‑General (DG) of Buhari’s 2015 and 2019 campaigns, Amaechi coordinated nationwide outreach, mobilised the Governors’ Forum—a coalition of state governors—and led a “criss‑cross” tour to persuade voters that change was needed.

Amaechi’s record includes steering the 2013‑14 defection of PDP governors to the newly formed All Progressives Congress (APC), a move that weakened the ruling People's Democratic Party and set the stage for Buhari’s upset over incumbent Goodluck Jonathan. Tinubu, meanwhile, oversaw the merger of opposition parties that created the APC, a contribution he has highlighted in his own political memoirs.

What It Means Amaechi’s challenge to Tinubu’s narrative positions him as a rival architect of the 2015 triumph, reinforcing his credibility as a 2027 presidential contender. By foregrounding his campaign leadership, he seeks to diminish Tinubu’s claim to political seniority and to rally opposition forces around an alternative legacy. The dispute underscores a broader contest over who controls the APC’s founding myth, a factor that could shape alliances and voter sentiment in the lead‑up to the next general election.

Watch how the ADC coalition leverages Amaechi’s campaign credentials against the incumbent’s narrative in the months ahead.