The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has stated that it is impossible for the former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, to deliver Rivers State to the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in the 2027 elections.
Speaking to journalists on Friday, Wike recalled how Amaechi failed to secure victories in Rivers State while he was in the All Progressives Congress (APC).
He referenced the 2015 and 2019 elections, noting that, even with federal backing as director-general of the late former President Muhammadu Buhari’s presidential campaign, the APC did not perform strongly in the state.
The former governor of Rivers added that despite what he described as “federal might” deployed during past elections, he still won the governorship elections in the state, insisting that the state remains politically resistant to such projections.
Wike said, “Are we saying today, if an election is conducted in Rivers state today, that Rotimi Amaechi will deliver Rivers state to ADC?
“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 also urged the opposition party to focus on building structures rather than relying on prominent political figures to boost their electoral chances, adding that voters ultimately decide outcomes at the ballot.
“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.
“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,” he said.
The minister further questioned ADC’s prospects nationally, adding that former Senate President David Mark, who is the party’s national chairman, cannot deliver Benue, his home state.
“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.
“Will you now say former senate president David Mark will deliver Benue to ADC in 2027?“ he said.
