Amaechi: A military officer told me at the airport that my safety could not be guaranteed

African Democratic Congress (ADC) vice presidential candidate Rotimi Amaechi has urged party members to stop contesting primaries and focus on winning the elections.

Amaechi, who made the call during the inauguration of the ADC Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) in Abuja on Friday, called on members to unite behind the party.

“If we keep fighting over party primaries, it’s over. We have to win the election,” he said.

Amaechi urged members of the electoral council to recognize the responsibility before them, saying the task requires determination, unity and willingness to overcome obstacles.

“Incumbent governments often make the mistake of believing they are invincible and cannot be removed,” he said.

The former Rivers governor recalled his experiences during previous political campaigns during the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) era, including incidents where security agents allegedly prevented him from travelling.

He said he was stopped once at Akure airport and was advised by a military officer to leave the area because his safety could not be guaranteed.

Amaechi said the experience did not stop him from continuing his political activities, adding that opposition figures must be prepared to face challenges during their campaigns.

He also recounted another incident that occurred at Akure Airport when he said he was prevented from flying, saying the intervention of political leaders helped resolve the situation.

The ADC vice presidential candidate said experiences have shown that political campaigns could involve difficulties that require courage, persistence and collective action.

He urged members of the electoral council to learn from previous political struggles and remain focused on their responsibilities.

Amaechi said subsequent developments disrupted their travel arrangements, adding that the experience reinforced the need for opposition politicians to remain prepared for unexpected challenges.

He also enjoined the electoral council to remain committed to its mandate and work collectively to achieve the party’s objectives in the upcoming elections.