2027: Atiku’s presidential bid doomed with Amaechi as running mate — Wike

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has dismissed the prospects of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential ticket, insisting that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar would struggle to win the 2027 presidential election with former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi as his running mate.

Speaking during his monthly media chat in Abuja on Tuesday, Wike argued that Amaechi lacks the electoral influence needed to strengthen Atiku’s chances at the polls.

According to the minister, if Atiku’s decision was based on the expectation that Amaechi would deliver significant votes, then the opposition’s presidential ambition had already suffered a major setback.

«”Amaechi as the running mate to Atiku, I have come to know that it will be difficult for Atiku to be president. In all the calculations, if you are choosing a vice-presidential candidate, a running mate, I’m sure the only factor that made him choose Amaechi may be financial.»

«”If it’s in terms of bringing votes to support Atiku, he is dead on arrival,” Wike said.»

The former Rivers State governor also questioned Amaechi’s electoral record, recalling previous elections in which the former Minister of Transportation played prominent campaign roles.

Wike claimed that despite serving as Director-General of former President Muhammadu Buhari’s presidential campaigns, Buhari failed to secure 25 per cent of the votes in Rivers State.

«”I was a Minister of State while he was governor and I defeated him very well. He has never won an election since after 2011 when I was the Director-General of the campaign.»

«”He was the DG of Buhari in 2015 and Buhari did not get 25 per cent. He was the DG again in 2019 when he was a minister and Buhari still did not get 25 per cent,” he stated.»

Wike further dismissed suggestions that Amaechi remains a dominant political force in Rivers State and the South-South region.

He argued that political relevance should be measured by sustained grassroots support and tangible achievements in public office rather than previous titles held.

According to him, former office holders should be judged by the impact of their service on the lives of the people they represented.

The FCT minister also criticised Amaechi over his emergence on the ADC presidential ticket, alleging that the former governor had previously condemned the party’s primary election before eventually accepting its outcome.

«”In the South-South, which state will he have impact on? Just one month ago, this was the same man who said the ADC primary was marred by irregularities and corruption. Today, he is benefiting from the same process he criticised,” Wike added.»

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