Bashir Ahmad F!res Back At Amaechi Over Buhari’s Role In 2023 Presidential Primary

Former presidential aide Bashir Ahmad has criticised the African Democratic Congress (ADC) vice-presidential candidate, Rotimi Amaechi, over his recent comments about the 2023 presidential election, urging him to accept responsibility for the decisions he made during the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential primary.

According to Bush Radio Academy, Amaechi had expressed regret over following the advice of former President Muhammadu Buhari not to campaign during the APC presidential primary in 2022.

The former Minister of Transportation disclosed that Buhari had given him a written assurance that he would be his preferred successor. Amaechi explained that he trusted the former president because he was his superior at the time and consequently refrained from lobbying delegates or negotiating political support ahead of the contest.

Speaking during an interview on Mainland 98.3 FM’s The Situation Room in Lagos on Friday, Amaechi also suggested that his decision not to negotiate political positions with governors and other influential party leaders contributed to his defeat, while President Bola Tinubu successfully built alliances ahead of the primary.

Reacting to the comments, Ahmad, in a post on his X account, faulted Amaechi for appearing to blame Buhari for the outcome of the election, arguing that the former president was no longer alive to respond to the allegations.

Ahmad maintained that Buhari respected democratic competition and established party procedures, insisting that a private assurance from the former president could not, on its own, have guaranteed anyone the APC presidential ticket.

He further argued that Amaechi’s explanation failed to fully reflect the political complexities surrounding the 2022 presidential primary.

The former presidential aide urged the ADC chieftain to take responsibility for his political decisions rather than retrospectively attributing his defeat to Buhari.

The exchange has reignited discussions about the internal political calculations, alliances and disagreements that shaped the APC presidential primary ahead of the 2023 general election.