Wike: Amaechi’s Vice Presidency of No Use to Rivers Peoples, Has Zero Electoral Value

Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, has launched a sharp critique against his predecessor, former Minister of Transportation Chibuike Amaechi. Wike asserted that Amaechi's candidacy as a vice presidential running mate holds no benefit for the people of Rivers State, labeling him a political liability with negligible electoral value in the state and the broader South-south region.

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If you are choosing a vice presidential candidate, a running mate, I’m sure the only factor that has been used to choose Rotimi Amaechi, maybe financial, because the former governor lacks the capacity to deliver votes.

During a media chat in Abuja, Wike contended that the Rivers electorate would not be swayed by Amaechi's vice presidential ambitions. He highlighted the current administration's focus on Rivers State, pointing to infrastructure projects like the Bonny Road as evidence of unprecedented federal attention compared to previous governments. Wike claimed Amaechi lacks significant followership and has failed to deliver tangible achievements or substantial votes in past election cycles, despite holding high-profile positions.

Wike questioned Amaechi's electoral track record, recalling his involvement in past presidential campaigns. "He has never won a presidential election after 2011, when I was the Director of Campaign. Never!" Wike stated, referencing Amaechi's roles in the 2015 and 2019 Buhari campaigns and the 2023 Atiku campaign, none of which, he argued, secured the expected vote percentages in Rivers State.

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He has never won a presidential election after 2011, when I was the Director of Campaign. Never!

The FCT minister also accused Amaechi of political inconsistency, pointing to his past criticisms of the All Progressives Congress (APC) primaries as irregular and corrupt, only to later participate in or benefit from the same system. Wike further cited Amaechi's opposition to former President Goodluck Jonathan, a fellow South-south indigene, during the 2015 election and his alleged role in the removal of the former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Walter Onnoghen, as reasons why the region should reject his national political aspirations.

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This was the same man, just one month ago, who said the APC primary is manual, full of irregularity, and corruption.