Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has dismissed the political value of former Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, as the running mate to the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, declaring that the ticket would struggle to win the 2027 presidential election.
Speaking during his monthly media chat in Abuja on Tuesday, August 4, Wike argued that Amaechi does not possess the electoral influence needed to boost Atiku’s chances at the polls.
According to the FCT minister, if Atiku is counting on Amaechi to attract votes, then the opposition ticket is already in trouble.
“Amaechi as the running mate to Atiku, I have come to know that it will be difficult for Atiku to be president, in all the calculations if you are choosing a vice presidential candidate, a running mate, I’m sure that the only factor that made him to choose Amaechi may be financial.
“If it’s in terms of bringing votes to support Atiku, he is dead on arrival,” Wike said.
The minister pointed to Amaechi’s previous role as Director-General of former President Muhammadu Buhari’s presidential campaigns, claiming he failed to secure the required electoral support for Buhari in Rivers State despite occupying key positions in government.
“I was a Minister of State while he was governor and I defeated him very well, he has never won an election since after 2011 when I was the DG of the campaign.
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“He was the DG of Buhari in 2015 and Buhari did not get 25 percent, he was the DG in 2019 when he was a minister and Buhari did not get 25 percent,” Wike said.
Wike also rejected suggestions that Amaechi remains a political asset in Rivers State or the wider South-South region.
He argued that political relevance should be measured by tangible achievements rather than previous offices held.
“Is he an asset to Rivers State and South South? You must be a former governor that still has followers, you must say when you were a minister what did you bring to the people of your state? As a minister what did your government do to impact the lives of Rivers people, so it’s not about being former this or that.
“In the South South, which state will he have impact on and that’s why we say that the way we are, just one month ago, this was the same man who said the ADC primary was married by irregularities and corruption, the same man now is benefitting from the corruption and irregularities of the same system,” Wike added.
The latest remarks add to the growing political rivalry between Wike and Amaechi, both former governors of Rivers State, as parties intensify preparations for the 2027 general election.