Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has dismissed claims that former Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, holds enough political influence to help the opposition coalition unseat President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 elections.
Wike made the remarks on Monday during his monthly media briefing in Abuja, in response to comments Amaechi made at his 60th birthday celebration, where he criticised the current administration and claimed widespread hunger in the country.
Wike, who described Amaechi’s remarks as deceptive and politically motivated, said: “I don’t know how somebody will use his 60th birthday to tell lies. Years after leaving office—saying ‘I’m in coalition because I’m hungry’ or zoning office for power—shows failure on his part.”
He accused the former Minister of Transportation of trivialising the hardship facing Nigerians and lacking the credibility to speak on poverty or hunger. “How do you look at Nigerians and trivialise the issue of hunger or poverty? You are insulting Nigerians,” Wike said.
The FCT Minister questioned Amaechi’s influence in national politics, recalling his inability to deliver results for his party during his tenure in office.
“You say he is influential, what influence? We overrate people,” Wike said. “He was governor in 2015 but couldn’t produce a successor. He couldn’t give his candidate, Buhari, even 25 percent in Rivers State.”
He continued: “Amaechi said he produced a governor, but he couldn’t produce a candidate. Buhari didn’t make 25 percent and he (Amaechi) was the DG of his campaign.”
Wike also took aim at Amaechi’s switch to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2023 to support Atiku Abubakar: “In 2023, he came to support Atiku in PDP. Thank God we didn’t support the party. If we had and they won, he would have taken the glory. PDP failed and didn’t get even 10 percent [in Rivers], so what influence are we talking about?”
Responding to Amaechi’s involvement in the emerging opposition coalition seeking to challenge Tinubu’s presidency, Wike said: “Let them form their team, but the coalition starts from home if they want to remove the President.”
Amaechi is one of several prominent figures involved in talks aimed at forming a strong opposition alliance ahead of the 2027 general election. Wike, however, maintains that such efforts will not succeed without grassroots support or credibility.
