The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has warned former Minister of Transportation and African Democratic Congress vice-presidential candidate, Rotimi Amaechi, that campaigning in Rivers State could become difficult if he continues what Wike described as attacks on President Bola Tinubu and his supporters.
Wike spoke on Friday in Abuja after a meeting with chairmen of the six area councils of the Federal Capital Territory, amid growing exchanges between political figures ahead of the 2027 general election.
His remarks followed comments made by Amaechi at an ADC town hall meeting in Benin, Edo State, where the former Rivers governor criticised support for Tinubu’s re-election bid and said only “thieves” would canvass votes for the President. Amaechi also referred to a social media comment suggesting that anyone voting for Tinubu in 2027 would be “mad.”
Reacting, Wike warned that such rhetoric could heighten political tension and said Amaechi should reconsider the language being used in the campaign.
“If he continues this line, it will be difficult for him to campaign in Rivers. We will not take that. If security agencies and INEC can fold their hands, that’s their business, but we will not allow it,” Wike said.
The FCT Minister said he watched Amaechi’s remarks on television and interpreted them as an attack not only on Tinubu but also on Nigerians who support the President.
“All of us watched on television yesterday where he said it’s only thieves that can vote for Bola Ahmed Tinubu, only mad people can vote for Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and that if Edo people vote for him, it means Edo people are mad. This is supposedly a vice-presidential candidate of a political party seeking to take over power,” Wike said.
He urged the Independent National Electoral Commission and other relevant agencies to take a firmer position against political actors who resort to inflammatory or personality-based attacks rather than campaigning on policies and programmes.
According to Wike, electoral and security institutions have a responsibility to prevent political rhetoric from degenerating into conduct capable of threatening public order.
“You see, one problem we have in this country is that agencies or commissions should be able to take their functions seriously. Many Nigerians have called on INEC to sanction political parties, candidates or some politicians who, in their campaigns, incite the public or raise matters that are not issue-based,” he said.
Wike then shifted attention to Amaechi’s record during his tenure as governor of Rivers State, challenging him to account for a number of projects and transactions undertaken by his administration.
“I have challenged him to tell Nigerians where is our $39 million cassava flour mill which you claimed you built? Where is the $10 million you paid to a Cuban company to fumigate Rivers State so there will be no mosquito bite? Where is the ₦68 billion monorail? Where is the $308 million you sold our gas turbine?” Wike asked.
The minister also accused Amaechi of mismanaging Rivers State resources and referred to findings of a judicial commission of inquiry established after Amaechi left office.
“Amaechi has looted the treasury. Ask him why he was indicted by a Judicial Panel of Inquiry and why he went to court to challenge that indictment and lost at the Supreme Court,” Wike alleged.
The allegations remain Wike’s claims, and the remarks reported on Friday did not constitute a judicial finding that Amaechi committed the alleged offences.
The latest exchange adds another layer to the long-running political rivalry between Wike and Amaechi, both former governors of Rivers State, as campaigning intensifies ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
Amaechi is running as vice-presidential candidate of the ADC alongside former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, while Wike has remained one of Tinubu’s prominent political allies despite retaining his membership of the Peoples Democratic Party.
Wike’s warning that campaigning could become difficult for Amaechi in Rivers is likely to draw further attention to political security and freedom of campaign as parties prepare to take their messages to voters across the country.
... “If He Continues This Line, It Will Be Difficult For Him To Campaign In Rivers” — Wike Warns Amaechi Over Attacks On Tinubu ... TheNigeriaLawyer.