THE political atmosphere ahead of the 2027 general elections continues to gather momentum as the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has dismissed claims that former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, can deliver Rivers State to the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in the upcoming polls.
News Point Nigeria reports that Wike made the remarks during an interview with journalists, where he reflected on past electoral contests in Rivers State and used historical election outcomes to question Amaechi’s political influence in the state.
According to him, despite Amaechi’s previous influence and high-ranking positions within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), he has consistently failed to translate that influence into electoral victory in Rivers State.
He specifically referenced the 2015 and 2019 general elections, noting that even when Amaechi served as the Director-General of the presidential campaign of the late former President Muhammadu Buhari, the APC still struggled to make significant electoral gains in the state.
Wike, a former governor of Rivers State, further argued that even what he described as “federal might” allegedly deployed during those election cycles did not alter the political outcome in his favour.
He maintained that he still emerged victorious in the governorship elections despite the presence of strong federal political backing aligned against him at the time.
“Are we saying today, if an election is conducted in Rivers state today, that Rotimi Amaechi will deliver Rivers state to ADC?” Wike asked.
“Remember, he was a governor. When I came to run as governor, he was in the APC. Who defeated him? And he was the DG of the campaign then.
“Remember, in 2019, when I was running for my second term, he was the minister of transportation and was the DG of Buhari’s campaign.
“Of all the federal might that came, I won. The late President Buhari never got 25 percent. In 2015, he didn’t get it. In 2019, he didn’t get it. How do you now say that he will win?”
Wike’s remarks underscored his long-standing position that Rivers State politics is deeply rooted in local dynamics and voter sentiment, rather than the influence of national political figures or federal power blocs.
He further advised the opposition ADC and other emerging political groups to focus on building strong party structures and grassroots support rather than relying on prominent personalities as a shortcut to electoral success.
According to him, elections are ultimately decided by voters, and not by the political stature or past offices held by individuals.
“So, we should stop saying there’s one party. So many parties have been registered. Why do you say that this party is not opposition? All other parties are there. You should encourage them to do what the opposition is supposed to do,” he said.
“I will be very glad that they are on the ballot. Let them contest the election. Let the stories be over. The only thing you hear next time is, ‘Oh, the election was rigged.’ That’s the only thing you hear. That’s the only language they will come and tell you.”
The FCT Minister also expanded his criticism to the national structure of the ADC, questioning the party’s ability to secure electoral victories in key states across the country.
He specifically pointed to former Senate President David Mark, who currently serves as the national chairman of the ADC, questioning whether he could deliver his home state of Benue in the 2027 elections.
Wike referenced previous election outcomes in Benue State to support his argument, suggesting that political history does not favour assumptions of easy victories based solely on party leadership or individual prominence.
“Take, for example, Benue, where the former senate president, their so-called chairman of the party, his daughter won under APC, and he was in PDP,” he said.
“Will you now say former senate president David Mark will deliver Benue to ADC in 2027?”