The presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, has accused former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi of creating what he described as the “monster called Wike.”
Sowore was referring to the minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike.
He alleged that Amaechi protected Wike when he was serving as his Chief of Staff.
The activist made the remarks during an interview on the Naija Unfiltered Podcast.
According to Sowore, their first encounter took place when Amaechi was serving as governor of Rivers State and attended an event organised in honour of renowned Nigerian writer Chinua Achebe in Rhode Island.
“The first time I met him was when he was a state governor. He attended an Achebe’s event in Rhode Island, and I challenged him. The video is still available,” Sowore said.
The AAC presidential candidate alleged that Amaechi was protecting Wike over an incident involving money in the United States.
“At the time, he was shielding Wike, who was his Chief of Staff. Wike went and stole some money and was arrested in the United States. Amaechi was arranging how to shield Wike and eventually succeeded in doing so,” he alleged.
Sowore subsequently blamed Amaechi for a role in creating the political influence Wike now wields.
“Amaechi is the one who created this monster they call Wike,” he declared.
He also recounted his second encounter with Amaechi, which took place at his office in New York when the former governor was travelling for activities relating to the All Progressives Congress (APC). Amaechi resigned from the APC earlier in the year and is now the vice presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
Sowore said Amaechi visited his office for an interview and that former Kogi West Senator Dino Melaye was also present during the visit.
According to him, he noticed dollar bills sticking out of Amaechi’s pocket after the interview ended.
“The second time, Amaechi came to my office in New York to be interviewed when they were doing their APC activities. He was passing through, and even Dino Melaye came,” he said.
“When we finished the interview, he adjusted his suit, and dollar bills were sticking out of his pocket. The footage is still available.”
“When he finished, I told him, ‘Amaechi, you don’t know me.’ I took him downstairs and bought him food worth $7. That is what I do for all of them. They couldn’t even finish the food,” he recounted.
He added that he told the former governor, “You see now, I can afford to buy you food.”
Sowore also argued that Amaechi would have openly expressed any grievances against him if there had been a serious disagreement between them.
“What I am trying to tell you is that if Amaechi had anything against me, he would have said so,” he said.
“Amaechi doesn’t have emotional intelligence. He can’t hold anything back. If he gives me even a dime, he will remind me of it,” Sowore added.
“He would have said it there in Port Harcourt because he was really pained that I challenged him. I stood up to him, and he didn’t expect that to happen to him in Port Harcourt, where he was told that his monorail had become a museum,” he added.
The AAC presidential candidate has also recently spoken about electoral reforms and the welfare of personnel of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
In a separate statement, Sowore threatened to boycott the 2027 elections if INEC workers continued to receive what he described as poor remuneration.
He called for a minimum wage of N500,000 for the commission’s employees, arguing that their welfare was essential to the conduct of credible elections.
Sowore made the demand while reacting to comments by INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, who said the commission’s personnel were among the least-paid workers in the country.
“No decent wages, no credible elections,” Sowore declared.
He also warned that he would join INEC workers in boycotting the elections if their welfare concerns were ignored.
“If these workers continue to be treated with contempt, I will join them in boycotting the 2027 elections,” he said.
Amupitan, in response to concerns about staff welfare, said INEC had begun taking steps to improve remuneration and working conditions, including moving away from the conventional civil service payment structure towards a separate salary arrangement for the commission.
The INEC chairman said the changes were part of efforts to strengthen the commission’s operations and improve preparations for the 2027 general elections.