‘They are desperados’: Presidency slams Malami, Amaechi over defection to ADC

The Presidency has lashed out at the former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, and ex-Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, over their defection to the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

Malami and Amaechi announced their resignation from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) on Wednesday, July 2, 2025, after the official adoption of the ADC as the opposition coalition platform ahead of the 2027 general election.

The duo served during former President Muhammadu Buhari’s two terms.

Speaking on the development via a statement on Thursday, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said some new members of the ADC left the APC years and months ago.

The presidential spokesman said Amaechi’s soul left the APC in 2022 after losing the presidential primary election to President Bola Tinubu.

Onanuga added: “Abubakar Malami, the former Attorney-General, has never hidden his estrangement from the APC since Tinubu assumed leadership and since he lost the governorship bid in Kebbi.

“Hadi Sirika, now with the ADC, is facing trial for contract splitting and other allegations.

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“The renegade Rauf Aregbesola committed anti-party activities in the last Osun election and was expelled as an unfit APC member

“Kashim Imam and the octogenarian Chief John Odigie Oyegun are among the disgruntled politicians posturing as would-be saviours of Nigeria.

“Imam abandoned the APC after failing to secure the vice-presidential ticket in 2022. Chief Oyegun, a former party chairman, also lost interest in the APC and has been a foundational member of this coalition since its inception.”

Onanuga, therefore, urged Nigerians to “keep your eyes wide open”, adding that “a political party with no clear agenda or ideology – whose members are united only by their hatred for President Tinubu – cannot be good for our country. It will only set us back by decades.”

He stated: “These politicians are desperados, hungry for power, not for the benefit of Nigerians but for themselves.

“They want power at all costs because they cannot endure another four years in the political wilderness or be banished to political winter and irrelevance.

“What is certain is that the group will soon unravel due to their irreconcilable personal ambitions.”

The Star