FCT Minister Nyesom Wike has warned that residents of Rivers State will not vote for the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in the 2027 general elections, citing remarks made by the party’s vice-presidential candidate, Rotimi Amaechi. Wike made the statement on Saturday during President Bola Tinubu’s presidential campaign rally in Rivers State, asserting that Amaechi’s refusal to campaign in the state will result in a rejection of the ADC by local voters.
The minister alleged that Amaechi recently boasted on the News Central television channel that he did not need to campaign due to his high popularity. Wike stated that this admission effectively removes any basis for the ADC candidate to claim electoral manipulation if he fails to secure votes in the region.
“So, let it be on record that the vice-presidential candidate of ADC has told the world that he does not need to campaign in Rivers State; let it not be tomorrow, he will say that he campaigned and the election was rigged, he did not campaign, and nobody is going to vote for him,” Wike said.
Wike further urged Nigerians to dismiss any future allegations of rigging from Amaechi should the ADC lose the election. He emphasized that since the candidate explicitly stated he would not engage in campaigning activities in Rivers, any subsequent claims of a rigged process would be invalid.
During the rally, the FCT Minister reaffirmed the support of Rivers State residents for President Tinubu. He referenced a previous comment by Amaechi in 2023, in which the ADC candidate defined political brotherhood as identifying with others during times of trouble rather than through blood relationships.
Wike used this definition to argue that President Tinubu is the true “brother” to the people of Rivers State because he identifies with their needs. By contrast, he suggested that Amaechi’s actions and statements have alienated him from the constituency he seeks to represent in the upcoming 2027 polls.
<small>Source: Daily Post Nigeria — read the original story there.</small>