The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has said that key opposition figures cannot deliver victory for the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in the 2027 general elections.
Wike made the remarks while speaking to journalists, where he openly questioned the political strength of Rotimi Amaechi in Rivers State and David Mark in Benue State.
He insisted that both men lack the capacity to secure electoral wins for the ADC in their respective states.
Focusing on Rivers, the former governor argued that Amaechi’s influence has not translated into electoral success in the past. He pointed to the 2015 and 2019 elections as clear examples.
According to him, despite Amaechi holding powerful national positions at the time, the All Progressives Congress (APC) failed to win the state.
Wike recalled that Amaechi served as Director-General of the presidential campaign of former President Muhammadu Buhari in both election cycles. He also noted that Amaechi was Minister of Transportation during the 2019 polls. Still, he said, the APC could not secure victory in Rivers.
“Are we saying today, if an election is conducted in Rivers State today, that Rotimi Amaechi will deliver Rivers State to ADC?” Wike asked.
“Remember, he was a governor. When I came to run as governor, he was in the APC. Who defeated him? And he was the DG of the campaign then.
“Remember, in 2019, when I was running for my second term, he was the minister of transportation and was the DG of Buhari’s campaign.
“Of all the federal might that came, I won. The late President Buhari never got 25 percent. In 2015, he didn’t get it. In 2019, he didn’t get it. How do you now say that he will win?”
The minister stressed that Rivers voters have consistently resisted what he described as external political pressure. He maintained that electoral outcomes in the state are determined by the people, not by federal influence or political big names.
Wike also used the opportunity to advise opposition parties across the country. He urged them to focus more on building strong grassroots structures rather than relying on prominent individuals to win elections.
“So, we should stop saying there’s one party. So many parties have been registered. Why do you say that this party is not opposition? All other parties are there. You should encourage them to do what the opposition is supposed to do,” he said.
“I will be very glad that they are on the ballot. Let them contest the election. Let the stories be over. The only thing you hear next time is, ‘Oh, the election was rigged.’ That’s the only thing you hear. That’s the only language they will come and tell you.”
Turning to Benue State, Wike expressed doubt over the ADC’s chances under the leadership of David Mark. He argued that the former Senate President does not have the political strength to swing the state in favour of the party.
“Take, for example, Benue, where the former Senate president, their so-called chairman of the party, his daughter won under APC, and he was in PDP,” he said.
“Will you now say former Senate President David Mark will deliver Benue to ADC in 2027?”
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