The African Democratic Congress (ADC) vice-presidential candidate, Rotimi Amaechi, has intensified his criticism of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, telling voters in Edo State that only people he described as “mad” would vote for the President in the 2027 general election.
Amaechi made the remark on Thursday during an ADC town hall meeting in Benin City, where he urged residents to reject Tinubu at the polls and questioned the economic direction of the President’s administration.
“I read on social media that it is in 2027 that we will know how many madmen we have in Nigeria. It is only a madman that can vote for Tinubu,” Amaechi said.
He added that Edo voters who did not want to be associated with the description should ensure that Tinubu did not win the state.
The former Rivers State governor’s comments formed part of his broader attack on the administration’s economic policies, particularly the removal of the petrol subsidy, which he argued had increased the pressure on Nigerian households.
Amaechi also challenged the government’s portrayal of the subsidy removal as a courageous policy decision, arguing that the consequences for ordinary citizens should be central to any assessment of its success.
The remarks reflect the increasingly confrontational tone of political mobilisation ahead of the 2027 presidential election, with opposition figures seeking to turn public dissatisfaction over living costs into electoral support.
However, Amaechi’s language has also drawn criticism. The Presidency and the Edo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress reportedly condemned his comments, turning the exchange into a fresh political dispute between the ADC and the ruling party.
The controversy places the economy and the political consequences of the Tinubu administration’s reforms firmly at the centre of the emerging campaign debate. As parties intensify grassroots engagement, the key test will be whether political attacks translate into measurable voter support when Nigerians eventually head to the polls.