Former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, has been criticised over his comments, alleging that delegates who sold their votes at the All Progressives Congress presidential primary are regretting their action.
Amaechi had contested the APC presidential primary but lost to former Lagos State governor, Bola Tinubu.
Reacting to Amaechi’s comment, some party chieftains and Tinubu supporters reprimanded him, claiming he was frustrated after losing to Tinubu.
Loyalists to Amaechi also responded, defending their principal that he never mentioned any name while making the premise.
Director-General of Asiwaju Tinubu Presidential Campaign Organisation, Adebayo Shittu, said he found Amaechi’s utterances unbelievable.
He said, “Who is regretting what? Can Amaechi isolate himself from those he claimed to have induced delegates for votes? He, just like other aspirants at the APC primaries, cannot point fingers at others without implicating themselves.
“What does he mean by delegates are regretting they collected bribes for votes? Is he indirectly saying the governors who brought them collected bribes and expressing regret too? I wish to have an opportunity to square up with him on this kind of issue.”
The Ekiti State Coordinator of Tinubu Support Organisation, Gabriel Babalola, also took a swipe at Amaechi and wondered how a former minister believed he could win the battle for the APC presidential ticket without working hard for it.
“Before any of them could wake up, Asiwaju had gone from state to state, from one traditional ruler to another asking for their support.
“How many traditional rulers did Amaechi visit before the convention? How many states did he visit? He must have spoken out of frustration,” Babalola said.
One of Amaechi’s allies and a chieftain of the APC, Chukwuemeka Eze, however, said it was unfortunate that Tinubu’s camp took the matter personally.
“Did Amaechi mention anybody’s name when he made that statement? So if Tinubu’s people feel that they are the guilty, it is very unfortunate.
“Everybody saw what happened on that day, and even most of the delegates confirmed that they were given money to vote,” he said.
