ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)-Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has dismissed the presidential ticket of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, insisting that the alliance lacks the political strength required to make an impact in Rivers State and the wider South-South region.
Speaking during his monthly media parley on Tuesday, Wike argued that Amaechi no longer commands the electoral influence needed to attract significant votes, describing his emergence as Atiku’s running mate as a development that would not alter the political equation ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
The former Rivers State governor maintained that political relevance should be measured by electoral performance rather than the offices previously occupied by an individual.
According to him, Amaechi’s record in recent elections does not support the argument that he remains a formidable political force capable of delivering Rivers State to any presidential candidate.
Wike cited previous electoral contests in the state, claiming that despite Amaechi’s positions as governor, Minister of Transportation and Director-General of Muhammadu Buhari’s presidential campaigns, the former minister was unable to secure convincing electoral victories for his preferred candidates in Rivers.
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He also referred to the 2023 presidential election, arguing that Amaechi’s support for Atiku failed to translate into significant votes in the state, a development he said reflected the former governor’s declining political influence.
The FCT minister further suggested that if Atiku’s decision to pick Amaechi was based on expectations of electoral advantage, the calculation would prove ineffective, insisting that the ticket would struggle to gain meaningful political traction in Rivers State.
Wike questioned Amaechi’s contributions to Rivers State during his years in public office, arguing that occupying high-ranking political positions does not automatically confer enduring political relevance.
He said political leaders should ultimately be judged by the impact of their stewardship and the level of grassroots support they retain after leaving office.
Vanguard reports that the latest remarks underscore the enduring rivalry between Wike and Amaechi, whose political contest has shaped Rivers State politics for more than a decade.
Their rivalry has repeatedly influenced electoral outcomes in the oil-rich state and continues to feature prominently in discussions ahead of the 2027 general election.