The African Democratic Congress has rejected claims by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, that Rivers State is already secured for President Bola Tinubu ahead of the 2027 general election, accusing the former Rivers State governor of betraying growing anxiety over the opposition’s increasing strength.
Reacting, the African Democratic Congress described Chief Wike’s remarks as evidence of growing anxiety over the rising popularity of the opposition.
The party also rejected his assertion that the 2027 presidential election in Rivers State had already been decided.
Rivers State ADC Publicity Secretary, Chizi Enyi, in a statement issued in Port Harcourt on Tuesday, said Chief Wike was unsuccessfully attempting to diminish Mr Amaechi’s political relevance in Rivers State and across Nigeria.
Mr Enyi questioned why the FCT minister continued devoting considerable time attacking political opponents he claimed lacked electoral value.
According to him, the contradiction suggested anxiety rather than confidence.
The ADC spokesman maintained that Mr Amaechi remained one of Rivers State’s most consequential political leaders, arguing that his record in governance and public service required no validation from political opponents.
Mr Enyi added that every election was unique and that previous electoral outcomes would have little bearing on the 2027 contest.
He said Rivers people were more concerned about the economy, insecurity, unemployment, infrastructure and worsening hardship than endless political quarrels.
The party further argued that no individual had the exclusive right to determine how Rivers’ people would vote, insisting that democracy would ultimately be decided by the electorate.
Mr Enyi advised Chief Wike to focus on administering the Federal Capital Territory and allow Rivers residents to freely make their democratic choices without intimidation or political grandstanding.
He expressed confidence that “truth, performance and the will of the people” would prevail in the 2027 elections.
Mr Wike, during his monthly media briefing in Abuja on Tuesday, dismissed the political relevance of former Rivers State Governor and ADC vice-presidential candidate, Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi, insisting that Rivers State would deliver President Tinubu in the next presidential election.
The minister maintained that Rivers State remained firmly aligned with President Tinubu and challenged opposition figures banking on the state to reconsider their expectations.
Chief Wike argued that Mr Amaechi no longer possessed the electoral strength to influence elections in Rivers State, claiming the former governor had repeatedly failed to deliver significant votes in previous presidential elections despite occupying strategic political positions.
He further contended that Mr Amaechi’s political influence had steadily declined over the years and insisted that Rivers State’s political structure remained under his control and committed to President Tinubu’s re-election.
Revisiting the events surrounding the 2015 presidential election, Chief Wike accused Mr Amaechi of playing a central role in the defeat of former President Goodluck Jonathan but failing to sustain his own political dominance in Rivers State afterward.
According to the minister, Rivers State would once again line up behind President Tinubu in 2027.
“If anybody is counting Rivers, go now and cancel it. The only person that can count Rivers is Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“I am not talking because I want to talk; I am talking as a political realist because I know my people,” Mr Wike said.
He also questioned the ADC’s decision to nominate Mr Amaechi as its vice-presidential candidate alongside the party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, suggesting the choice may have been influenced more by financial considerations than electoral value.
“I am sure the only factor that has been used to choose Rotimi Amaechi may be financial because the former governor lacks the capacity to deliver votes.
“He has never won a presidential election after 2011 when I was the Director of Campaign. He was the Director-General of Buhari in 2015 when he was governor; why did he not get 25 per cent?
“He was the DG in 2019 when he was a super minister; why did he not get 25 per cent? He supported Atiku in 2023; how come he didn’t get 15 per cent?” Chief Wike queried.
Fubara’s political future
Speaking on the Rivers political crisis, Chief Wike said Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s second-term ambition had effectively ended, insisting the governor’s political predicament was self-inflicted because he ignored repeated advice against dismantling the political structure that brought him to power.
According to the minister, individuals who initially opposed Mr Fubara’s emergence later infiltrated his camp and encouraged him to confront his political benefactors.
“Those who didn’t want you to be governor now became your friends. Obviously, they will destroy you, thinking that coming closer to you is to fight us.
“At the end of the fight, I have not lost anything. What have I lost? Nothing. But you have lost. You intended to go for a second term, is it not correct? And you are not going,” Mr Wike said.
Despite their prolonged feud, the minister insisted he still had affection for Governor Fubara.
“If I don’t love him, why would we support him?” he asked.
Mr Wike disclosed that reconciliation efforts between both camps were at one point successful before political interests derailed the process.
He also alleged that external political interests viewed Rivers State as “a cash cow” and encouraged Governor Fubara to oppose his political family.
The political crisis between both men began shortly after Governor Fubara assumed office in 2023 and eventually culminated in a six-month state of emergency declared by President Tinubu in 2025.
Governor Fubara later defected to the All Progressives Congress, withdrew from the 2026 governorship race and subsequently rejoined Chief Wike’s Rainbow Coalition.
Attack on Bode George, Onaiyekan
On the internal crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party, Chief Wike launched a fresh attack on PDP Board of Trustees member, Chief Bode George.
The minister alleged that Chief George resided in a Maitama property financed with Rivers State Government funds and challenged him to deny the allegation.
He also criticised Chief George for repeatedly accusing the judiciary of corruption whenever court judgments did not favour him.
Chief George recently petitioned the National Judicial Council over the 17 July judgment of the Federal High Court dismissing a suit filed by the Adolphus Wabara-led PDP Board of Trustees faction and awarding N140 million costs against the plaintiffs.
Chief Wike further criticised the Archbishop Emeritus of the Catholic Archdiocese of Abuja, Cardinal John Onaiyekan, over his repeated criticism of the Tinubu administration.
While acknowledging that governments should be criticised, the minister argued that religious leaders should remain balanced and avoid creating the impression of political bias.
He also claimed many clerics openly took political positions during the 2023 general election.
Security concerns
On security, Chief Wike disclosed that the Federal Capital Territory Administration was considering restricting commercial motorcycles and tricycles from parts of Abuja city centre following intelligence reports linking them to criminal activities.
According to him, the FCT Security Council had already recommended the measure, although he ruled out a complete ban because of Abuja’s size and transportation realities.
The minister also lamented the recurring influx of beggars into the nation’s capital despite repeated evacuation exercises.
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