Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike has dismissed the emergence of former Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi as the running mate to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, declaring that the opposition ticket lacks the political strength to win the 2027 presidential election.
Speaking during a media briefing on Tuesday, Wike argued that Amaechi no longer commands the political influence needed to deliver votes in Rivers State or across the South-South, insisting that the former governor has struggled to produce electoral victories in recent years.
According to Wike, Atiku’s decision to pick Amaechi may have been influenced by considerations other than electoral value. He claimed that if the choice was made to attract votes, it would fail to produce the desired outcome.
“Rotimi Amaechi being the running mate to Atiku Abubakar, I have come to know that indeed, it would be difficult for Atiku to become president. I’m sure the only factor that made him choose Amaechi may be financial. If it is in terms of bringing votes to support him, it is dead on arrival,” Wike said.
The former Rivers State governor pointed to previous elections to back his argument, maintaining that Amaechi had been unable to secure significant electoral victories even while serving in powerful political positions. He recalled that during their time in government, he defeated Amaechi politically despite Amaechi being the state’s governor.
Wike also referenced Amaechi’s role as Director-General of former President Muhammadu Buhari’s presidential campaigns in 2015 and 2019. He claimed Buhari failed to secure up to 25 percent of the votes in Rivers State during both elections, despite Amaechi’s leadership of the campaign. He further noted that Atiku’s performance in Rivers during the 2023 election also fell below expectations despite Amaechi’s support.
Questioning Amaechi’s continued political relevance, Wike argued that occupying high-profile public offices does not automatically make a politician an electoral asset. He said true political influence should be measured by the ability to retain loyal supporters and deliver election victories.
The FCT minister also challenged Amaechi’s legacy as a federal minister, asking what tangible impact his years in office had on Rivers State. According to Wike, political titles alone are not enough, and leaders should be judged by the lasting benefits they bring to their people.
Wike’s comments add another layer to the ongoing political rivalry between the two former Rivers governors, whose long-standing feud has continued to shape political conversations ahead of the next general election.
