Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has dismissed the emergence of former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, as the running mate to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar for the 2027 presidential election, insisting the alliance lacks the political strength to secure victory.
Speaking during a media parley on Tuesday, Wike said the Atiku-Amaechi ticket would struggle at the polls, arguing that Amaechi no longer commands the political influence needed to attract votes in Rivers State or across the South-South region.
According to the FCT minister, the only possible reason Atiku selected Amaechi could be financial considerations rather than electoral advantage.
Wike stated that if the choice was intended to boost votes, the strategy had already failed, describing the presidential ticket as “dead on arrival.” He maintained that Amaechi’s recent political history showed an inability to deliver electoral victories despite occupying influential positions in government.
Strengthening his argument, Wike recalled past elections in Rivers State, claiming he outperformed Amaechi politically even when the former governor occupied powerful offices. He noted that during the 2015 presidential election, Amaechi served as Director-General of Muhammadu Buhari’s campaign while still governor of Rivers State, yet Buhari failed to secure up to 25 percent of the votes in the state.
Wike added that the same outcome occurred in 2019 when Amaechi was a federal minister and campaign director, while Atiku also failed to secure significant support in Rivers during the 2023 presidential election despite Amaechi’s backing. According to Wike, these outcomes demonstrate that Amaechi has not recorded a major electoral victory since 2011.
Continuing his criticism, Wike attacks Amaechi by questioning whether holding prominent public offices automatically makes someone politically influential. He argued that genuine political relevance should be measured by the ability to retain loyal supporters and deliver electoral victories rather than by previous titles.
The minister also challenged Amaechi’s record in public office, asking what tangible projects or developmental benefits he brought to Rivers State while serving as a federal minister. According to Wike, occupying high-profile positions is not enough if such offices fail to produce meaningful impact on the lives of the people.
Wike’s remarks add another layer to the growing political exchanges ahead of the 2027 general election, with key political figures already positioning themselves and questioning the electoral strength of rival alliances. His comments come as discussions continue over the competitiveness of the Atiku-Amaechi ticket and its prospects in regions considered critical to determining the outcome of the presidential race.
