The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory and leader of the Rainbow Coalition, Nyesom Wike, has said the African Democratic Congress will not win Rivers State in the 2027 general elections, alleging that the party’s candidate, former governor Rotimi Amaechi, has repeatedly blamed electoral defeats on the manipulation of results.
Wike stated this on Saturday while addressing members of the Uzugbani Ekpeye at Ahoada, Rivers State, where he also urged the people of Ekpeye to scrutinise the records of politicians seeking their support ahead of the 2027 elections.
He said: “I was the DG (Director-General) of the campaign in 2011, because in 2007, he was not here. He was in Ghana, while we were fighting for him to be governor.
“So, I don’t want to talk about that because he was not on the ballot, but we fought for him to be governor. But let us talk about the one he was on the ballot, 2011, I was the DG of the campaign, right? Now, he said we have not won elections, when we were not writing results, which means that in 2011, we wrote results.
“Now, since I left him in 2011, after 2011, mention one election that he has ever won. Let me also say this. He said he was governor in 2015, according to him, I wrote the results while he was governor, he was not able to put his successor, right? So, he said, Oh, PDP was the president then, fine.
“In 2019, who was with the president. And he was minister, and he was the DG of Buhari campaign, is that not correct? He didn’t get 10% of the results.
“Fine, 2019 result was also written. In 2023, he did not support Tinubu, he supported Atiku, right? And he was in government also, and he came with battalions of soldiers, is that not correct? Yes. Yet, he didn’t win, so the result was also written.
“So, from 2011, when he became the second time governor, down to now, the result has been written, then let him forget it. The result will always be written; he will not win again. He has told his supporters, I will win, they will not, that is always the excuse, he has always used.”
Wike also reminded the audience that Ekpeye ethnic nationality was one of the largest ethnic groups in Rivers State which occupies a central position in the affairs of both the state and the nation, and therefore must weigh every political choice with the interest of its people in mind.
Meanwhile, in an earlier address of welcome by the President-General of Uzugbani Ekpeye, Dr. Alabo Ihuowo, expressed profound joy on behalf of the National Executive Council and the entire Ekpeye people for the visit of Minister of the FCT.
“It is with profound joy and humility that I, on behalf of the National Executive Council of Uzugbani Ekpeye, and the entire people of Ekpeye, warmly welcome Your Excellency to Ekpeye land,” Dr. Ihuowo said.
The President-General described Wike’s presence as a demonstration of his enduring relationship with the Ekpeye people and his continued interest in their development, unity and advancement.
“We use this opportunity to sincerely express our profound gratitude to you for your numerous contributions to the growth and development of Ekpeye lands, particularly during your tenure as Executive Governor of Rivers State from 2015 to 2023, and even now as the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja,” he stated, listing projects such as the Ahoada Campus of Rivers State University, reconstruction of Western Ahoada County High School and Government Girls Secondary School, construction of Ihupogo Road, the 15.2-kilometre Ogodi-Ozochi Road with bridges across the Orashi River, expansion of Ahoada Zonal Hospital, and provision of water and electricity to Oyobu community.
Dr. Ihuowo further noted that under Wike’s administration, Ekpeye produced a senator and two members of the House of Representatives, while several sons and daughters were appointed as commissioners and into key state commissions, adding that Prince Chibudom Nwuche currently serves as Pioneer Chairman of the South-South Development Commission.
“We are delighted that you encourage and support our daughter and sister, your dear wife, My Lord, the Honourable Justice Suzette Eberechi Nyesom-Wike, who is a proud Justice of the Court of Appeal of Nigeria,” he said.
