Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has declared that former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi holds no electoral value in Rivers State or the South-South, asserting that President Bola Tinubu is the only candidate capable of winning the state in the 2027 presidential election. Speaking at his monthly media briefing in Abuja, Wike questioned Amaechi's political relevance, citing his failure to secure significant votes in Rivers State during past elections despite holding key campaign roles. He pointed out that Amaechi, as Director-General of Muhammadu Buhari's 2015 and 2019 presidential campaigns, did not achieve 25 per cent of the vote in Rivers, and failed to secure 15 per cent when supporting Atiku Abubakar in 2023. Wike suggested financial influence, not grassroots support, may be the reason for Amaechi's continued inclusion on national tickets.
Wike challenged Amaechi to name major federal projects he delivered to Rivers State or the South-South during his tenure as Minister of Transportation, implying a lack of tangible impact. He accused Amaechi of political inconsistency, noting that he previously criticised the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential primary as flawed and corrupt, yet now benefits from the same system. Wike referenced Amaechi's role in opposing former President Goodluck Jonathan's 2015 re-election bid and his alleged involvement in the removal of former Chief Justice Walter Onnoghen, suggesting these actions would hinder any future political ambition in the South-South. In contrast, Wike highlighted federal projects like the Bonny Road as evidence of unprecedented attention to Rivers under Tinubu's administration. He revealed that a broad coalition of political figures from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), APC, Labour Party (LP) and Action Alliance (AA) has formed to support Tinubu's 2027 re-election bid.
Wike claims Amaechi cannot deliver votes in Rivers yet offers no data on the coalition's size or structure. If political strength is measured by electoral results and federal projects, then the absence of verifiable metrics for this new coalition makes its significance unclear. Wike's argument hinges on past performance, but without evidence of current grassroots organisation, the claim rests on assertion.
Editorial note: AI-assisted opinion, not established fact. Full disclaimer →
