Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has poured cold water on the 2027 presidential ambitions of his predecessor and political rival, Rotimi Amaechi, calling the bid “dead on arrival.”
Wike’s comments come in response to Amaechi’s August 9 declaration that he would defeat President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2027 elections if he secures the African Democratic Congress (ADC) ticket.
Amaechi, a former governor of Rivers State and ex-Minister of Transportation, had boldly claimed he could end corruption in Nigeria within a month if elected president.
He also pledged to amend the constitution to prioritize citizenship over indigeneship and insisted he had never been involved in election rigging.
“If I do not end corruption in Nigeria within one month, I will tender my resignation”, Amaechi had said.
However, during his appearance on Channels Television programme, Wike dismissed Amaechi’s claims, asserting that his rival knows he won’t even secure the ADC ticket, let alone win the presidency.
“He knows he won’t get the ticket,”_ Wike said. He mocked Amaechi’s assertion of knowing Tinubu’s weaknesses, pointing out that Amaechi had the same knowledge in 2022 but was still defeated by Tinubu in the APC presidential primary.
“Nigerians know the last person they will give a ticket to because they know it is dead on arrival”, Wike added.
Wike also criticized Amaechi’s credibility, accusing him of failing to respect the judiciary and the rule of law during his tenure as Rivers governor from 2007 to 2015.
He argued that Amaechi’s governance record undermines his claims of being able to tackle corruption or deliver good leadership.
The rivalry between Wike and Amaechi runs deep, as both men once served as allies but have since become fierce political adversaries.
Wike succeeded Amaechi as Rivers governor and spent eight years in office, solidifying his grip on the state’s politics and defeating candidates backed by Amaechi in key elections. Their feud continues to shape political narratives in Rivers State and beyond.
