Port Harcourt, Rivers State – Former Rivers State Governor and ex-Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi on Monday sharply rebuked African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore during a panel discussion at the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Annual General Conference in Port Harcourt, telling the activist to keep quiet when “politicians are talking.”
The confrontation erupted after Sowore challenged the records of politicians who had previously held public office, including Amaechi and former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi. Sowore argued that those who had governed and failed should apologise to Nigerians rather than seek a return to power in the 2027 elections.
“I love one thing that Amaechi said. He said, apart from Sowore and Adebayo, the rest of us have been in government and we have failed,” Sowore said. “They have no business coming back. You guys should be apologising to the Nigerian people.”
Sowore further criticised railway projects executed during Amaechi’s tenure as Minister of Transportation, claiming one rail line “went nowhere.” He linked the issue to the broader debate on fuel subsidy, insisting he had consistently opposed subsidy removal while others only recently shifted positions.
Amaechi pushed back forcefully. “Stop lying. Stop lying, Sowore. I said judge us by our achievements,” he interjected. He defended his record, stating: “I built the Lagos-Ibadan railway and the Abuja-Kaduna railway, and they were working during my time.”
As Sowore attempted to respond, Amaechi repeatedly cut him off before delivering a pointed rebuke: “I built roads and primary schools in Rivers State. Sowore, what is your experience? When politicians are talking, close your mouth.”
The exchange, captured on video and widely circulated, drew attention at the conference, which also featured other political figures including Peter Obi and Adebayo. Amaechi, currently associated with the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as a vice-presidential candidate in some reports, highlighted his achievements as both governor and minister while questioning Sowore’s political credentials and experience in elective office.
Sowore, a journalist, activist and two-time presidential candidate, had earlier used the platform to criticise successive governments over repeated subsidy removals dating back decades and accused the political class of shifting burdens onto ordinary Nigerians. He also faulted Peter Obi’s record on education and public-sector strikes in Anambra State.
The fiery moment underscored ongoing tensions within Nigeria’s opposition ranks ahead of the 2027 general elections, as figures with differing political backgrounds and records shared the stage at the high-profile legal gathering in Port Harcourt. Videos of the clash continued to trend on social media late Monday.
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