By Emeka Blast 
2023 Elections: Amaechi Says Peter Obi’s Rivers State Victory Was Manipulated
Former Minister of Transportation and ex-Rivers State Governor, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, has reignited controversy over the 2023 Nigerian presidential election, claiming that Labour Party (LP) candidate Peter Obi won Rivers State, but the results were manipulated to favor President Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC). Amaechi made the explosive statement during an X Space discussion on Saturday, August 9, 2025, asserting, “I can agree with you to some extent that Obi won Rivers State. But I don’t know how the results were changed.” His remarks have fueled public outrage and intensified calls for electoral reform, casting a shadow over the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) credibility.
Amaechi’s claim, reported by multiple outlets including Daily Post Nigeria and The Source, adds a new twist to the contentious February 25, 2023, election, where INEC declared Tinubu the winner with 231,591 votes in Rivers State, followed by Obi with 175,071 votes, and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) with 88,468 votes. The former governor, who defected from the APC to the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in 2024, did not provide evidence but hinted at insider knowledge, stating, “I challenge any politician to say I was part of rigging,” distancing himself from alleged electoral malpractices. His comments align with sentiments from some Nigerians who believed Obi, a former Anambra governor, was denied victory in Rivers due to irregularities.
The revelation has sparked a firestorm on X, with @ParallelFacts posting, “Peter Obi Won Rivers in 2023 Election, But Results Were Changed —Rotimi Amaechi,” garnering over 15,000 retweets. @SadiqMaunde added, “Not only Rivers, Obi won the entire election. Results were changed everywhere!” while @PeterRaphaelJnr criticized Amaechi’s silence during the election, tweeting, “You knew this & kept quiet even at the Supreme Court. Why now, Amaechi?” Supporters of Obi, like @PO_GrassRootM, hailed the statement as vindication, posting, “Justice for Obi! Amaechi confirms what we knew. #Rivers2023.” APC defenders, however, dismissed the claim, with @APCDefender tweeting, “Amaechi’s just bitter he lost APC primaries. No proof, just noise.”
Amaechi’s remarks come amid his growing criticism of Tinubu’s administration, particularly after his APC exit and alignment with the ADC’s 2027 coalition to unseat the ruling party. He also accused INEC Chairman Professor Mahmood Yakubu of being the “worst” in Nigeria’s history, alleging systemic electoral flaws. The controversy dovetails with ongoing debates about the 2023 election’s integrity, with Obi’s legal challenge dismissed by the Supreme Court in October 2023 for lack of evidence. A 2024 Vanguard News report noted persistent public distrust in INEC, fueled by glitches in the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and result transmission issues.
The Rivers State election has long been contentious, with then-Governor Nyesom Wike, now FCT Minister, rejecting claims of rigging in favor of Tinubu. Amaechi’s statement challenges Wike’s narrative, hinting at possible local manipulations. Political analyst Dr. Chidi Amuta told The PUNCH, “Amaechi’s claim, if substantiated, could reopen wounds from 2023 and demand accountability. But without evidence, it risks being political posturing.” The lack of specifics in Amaechi’s assertion has led some, like @TruthSeekerNG, to question its credibility, tweeting, “Amaechi says Obi won but ‘doesn’t know how’ results changed? Sounds like gossip, not facts.”
