2027: Wike dismisses Amaechi’s relevance in Rivers, says ticket with Atiku dead on arrival

Nigeria's Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, has declared the potential presidential ticket of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and former Transportation Minister Rotimi Amaechi as "dead on arrival." Wike, speaking at a media parley on Tuesday, asserted that Amaechi lacks the political clout to deliver votes in Rivers State or the South-South region, citing his consistent failure to secure electoral victories in recent years.

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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 pointed to past elections to bolster his argument, stating that Amaechi could not secure a governorship win even when Wike served as a minister. "I defeated him very well," Wike claimed, adding that Amaechi has not won an election since 2011, when Wike managed his campaign. He further highlighted Amaechi's roles as Director-General for Muhammadu Buhari's presidential campaigns in 2015 and 2019, and his support for Atiku Abubakar in 2023, arguing that these efforts failed to yield significant results in Rivers State.

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I defeated him very well.

"Buhari did not get 25 percent in Rivers" during those campaigns, Wike noted, and Atiku secured less than 15 percent in 2023. Wike also questioned Amaechi's legacy, suggesting that holding high office does not automatically confer political relevance. "The fact you're a former governor makes you an asset? You must be a former governor that still has followers," he stated, questioning what Amaechi brought to Rivers State during his tenure as a federal minister.

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He has not won any election since after 2011 when I was the DG of a campaign.