Only Tinubu Can Win Rivers in 2027, Amaechi Has No Electoral Value – Wike

Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike has declared that President Bola Tinubu is the only presidential candidate capable of winning Rivers State in the 2027 general election, while dismissing former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi as a politician without significant electoral influence.

Speaking during his monthly media briefing in Abuja on Tuesday, Wike urged political analysts to exclude Rivers State from their electoral calculations unless they were counting votes for President Tinubu.

“If anybody is counting Rivers, go now and cancel it. The only person that can count Rivers is Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. I am not talking because I want to talk; I am talking as a political realist, because I know my people,” he said.

The minister criticised Amaechi’s selection as the African Democratic Congress (ADC) vice-presidential candidate, arguing that the former transportation minister lacked the capacity to attract votes.

“I am sure the only factor that has been used to choose Rotimi Amaechi may be financial because the former governor lacks the capacity to deliver votes,” Wike stated.

Reviewing Amaechi’s electoral performance, Wike said the former governor failed to secure substantial support for presidential candidates he backed over the years.

“He has never won a presidential election after 2011 when I was the Director of Campaign. Never! He was the Director-General of Buhari in 2015 when he was governor; why did he not get 25%?

“He was the DG in 2019 when he was a Super Minister; why did he not get 25%? He supported Atiku in 2023; how come he didn’t get 15%?” he queried.

Wike also accused Amaechi of reversing his position on the ADC primary process after previously condemning it.

“This was the same man, just one month ago, who said the ADC primary was manual, irregular, and corrupt.

“How can we talk about removing a government that we are saying there is no election, and then we are in another election? The same man now is benefiting from the corruption, from irregularities of the same system,” he said.

The FCT minister further claimed that Amaechi’s opposition to former President Goodluck Jonathan’s second-term bid in 2015 would affect his acceptance in the South-South region.

“A South-South person wanted to go for a second term. You were proud you kicked him out. Now, will South-South be happy for you to be Vice President? You think that people have forgotten?” Wike asked.

On the political situation in Rivers State, Wike said parties including the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), All Progressives Congress (APC), Labour Party (LP), Action Alliance (AA), and other groups had agreed to work together in support of Tinubu’s re-election and candidates for the National and State Assemblies.

“Today, we have PDP, APC, Labour Party, AA all together. Whoever emerges should not be seen as APC or PDP; the person should be seen as the coalition’s candidate,” he said, describing the alliance as one that is “spreading like wildfire.”

He insisted the coalition was formed to promote development in Rivers State rather than partisan interests.

“If Rivers State is relevant because projects are coming and people are benefiting from government, then I am satisfied.

“It is not about personal ambition; it is about the interest of the state,” Wike said.

Africans Angle News