APC Lawyer Petitions Police Against Amaechi Over Defamatory Remarks Against Tinubu Supporters

A legal practitioner and member of the All Progressives Congress, E. O. Eiwone, has petitioned the Nigeria Police Force against former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi over alleged defamatory and inflammatory remarks directed at supporters of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The petition, dated October 10, 2026, was addressed to the Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Zone 5 Headquarters in Benin City, Edo State.

Eiwone, through his law firm Eiwo-Oriaifo Law Firm, accused Amaechi of describing Edo residents who intend to vote for Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election as “thieves” and “mad people”.

The petition is titled “Petition for Inciting Violence, Defamation and Conduct Likely to Cause the Breach of Peace and Cultism Against Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi”.

According to the petitioner, Amaechi made the controversial comments on October 8, 2026, during an ADC town hall meeting at Baptist School on TV Road, Benin City.

The event was reportedly broadcast across multiple social media platforms and mainstream media outlets, including Arise Television.

Amaechi was quoted as saying: “Only thieves can vote for Tinubu” and “Because it is only a mad man that can vote for Tinubu”.

He was further quoted as saying: “If Edo people vote for Tinubu, it means that Edo people are mad,” and “If you are not mad, then Tinubu should not win here”.

Eiwone argued that the remarks constitute a direct attack on his character and dignity, affirming that as a card-carrying member of the APC, his decision to support President Tinubu’s re-election bid is a constitutionally protected political choice.

“It is our client’s brief that he is not a thief and has never been convicted by any court in Nigeria or abroad for the offence of stealing, fraud, deceit, conversion, or any other offence bothering on stealing, dishonesty, or fraud,” the petition stated.

The petitioner rejected the insinuation that Tinubu supporters are mentally unstable, describing the statements as derogatory, defamatory, and capable of inciting violence among rival party supporters ahead of the 2027 general elections.

“It is also the brief from our client that the above comments in relation to our client and Edo State supporters of President Ahmed Tinubu amount to comments which can incite violence in Edo State,” the solicitors stated.

The petition alleges that Amaechi contravened Sections 96(1), (2), (3), (4), and (5) of the Electoral Act 2026.

Explaining that his client chose to seek lawful redress rather than resort to self-help, the legal team appealed to police authorities to act swiftly.

“We hereby appeal to you to use the instrumentality of your good office to intervene in this matter as our client is a peace-loving legal practitioner who would not want to take laws into his own hands,” the lawyers wrote.

Copies of the petition were also sent to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo, the APC National Chairman, the Edo State APC Chairman, and the party’s Edo Central Senatorial leader.