Rotimi Amaechi Accuses Goodluck Jonathan and Wife of Forcing Him Out of PDP
Former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, has made a startling allegation that former President Goodluck Jonathan and his wife, Patience Jonathan, were responsible for forcing him out of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Amaechi, who is now a chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), made this claim during an interview on Channels Television on April 17.
Allegations of Political Takeover in Rivers State
According to Amaechi, the former president and first lady took control of the party's structure in Rivers state, effectively sidelining him. "The country knew what happened. I was literally chased out of the PDP," Amaechi stated emphatically during the broadcast. When pressed for details on who was behind this action, he directly pointed to Jonathan and his wife, saying, "The president, with his wife. They took over the political structure in Rivers State and chased me out. The president, Goodluck, and his wife handed over the structure to other people, so I moved."
Historical Context of Amaechi's Departure
Amaechi's departure from the PDP occurred in 2013, following his suspension from the party for alleged anti-party activities. This move was a significant moment in Nigerian political history, as Amaechi became a key figure in the new PDP (nPDP) faction. This faction eventually merged into the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2015 general elections. The political realignment that followed contributed to Jonathan's loss in the 2015 presidential election to Muhammadu Buhari of the APC, who served as Nigeria's president from 2015 to 2023.
The allegations shed light on the internal dynamics and power struggles within the PDP during that period, highlighting how personal and political conflicts can reshape party loyalties and national politics.
