Vice-presidential candidate of African Democratic Congress (ADC), Rotimi Amaechi, has urged party members to stop disputing primaries and focus on winning 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 are still quarrelling about the party’s primary, it is over. We have to win elections,” he said.
Amaechi urged members of the campaign council to recognise the responsibility before them, saying that the task required determination, unity and willingness to overcome obstacles.
“Incumbent governments often make the mistake of believing they are invincible and can not be removed,” he said.
The former Rivers governor recalled his experiences during previous political campaigns during the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) era, including incidents in which he was allegedly prevented from travelling by security officials.
He stated that he was once stopped at Akure Airport and advised by a military officer to leave the area because his safety could not be guaranteed.
Amaechi said that the experience did not deter him from continuing his political activities, adding that opposition figures must be prepared to face challenges in the course of their campaigns.
He also recounted another incident at Akure Airport when he said he was prevented from flying, saying that the intervention of political leaders helped resolve the situation.
The ADC vice-presidential candidate said the experiences showed that political campaigns could involve difficulties that required courage, persistence and collective action.
He urged members of the campaign council to learn from previous political struggles and remain focused on their responsibilities.
Amaechi stated that 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 campaign council to remain committed to its mandate and work collectively toward achieving the party’s objectives in the forthcoming elections.
