Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has taken a fresh swipe at the opposition ahead of the 2027 presidential election, declaring that the African Democratic Congress (ADC) ticket of Atiku Abubakar and former Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, cannot secure the required 25 per cent votes in Rivers State.
Wike spoke on Monday during town hall meetings with stakeholders from the Rumueme and Apara kingdoms in Obio-Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State.
The former Rivers governor described the Atiku-Amaechi ticket as a “joint ticket of corruption”, while questioning the duo’s credibility and electoral strength in the state.
Wike also mocked Atiku’s recent anti-corruption stance, recalling criticisms made against the former Vice President by his former boss, ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo.
“When I saw Atiku on television yesterday, asking Nigerians to take any money given to them by people from the party in power, that it will be stolen money, I said haa, Atiku is now an apostle of anti-corruption?” Wike said.
“The same Atiku that his boss described as corrupt and that one of his major regrets was making him (Atiku) his Vice President is talking.”
Wike said the emergence of Amaechi on the ADC platform would not change the party’s fortunes in Rivers, insisting that the opposition would not meet the constitutional threshold in the state.
He also took a swipe at former Anambra State governor and Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, describing him and other opposition politicians as “unelectable.”
The FCT minister, however, devoted much of his address to mobilising support for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid.
Wike urged Rivers residents to ignore political sentiments and vote for Tinubu, citing federal appointments and development projects in the state as reasons for supporting the President.
“Each day I sleep, I am thinking about the president’s reelection. When I am eating, I think about the president’s reelection. Everything I am doing now is about the president’s reelection,” he said.
He added: “I know the reelection of Tinubu in 2027 will be easier than that of 2023. We should appreciate Tinubu and ensure massive votes for him. We can do it.”
Wike also cautioned political and community stakeholders against internal disputes and conflicts capable of destabilising their communities.
“What will be, will be. You don’t need to kill yourself. Anything that God said would be, it would be,” he said.
The minister maintained that his political focus remained on securing support for Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election.
