Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, has characterized the potential pairing of Rotimi Amaechi with former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar as a non-starter. During a press engagement on Tuesday, Wike asserted that the former Transportation Minister lacks the necessary electoral capital to influence results in Rivers State or the wider South-South region.
Wike contended that any decision to include Amaechi on a presidential ticket would likely be motivated by financial considerations rather than vote-getting ability. He noted that the ticket is effectively DOA, citing Amaechi’s string of political losses in recent cycles. Wike recalled their past rivalry, stating that Amaechi has struggled to deliver electoral success since 2011.
To support his stance, Wike pointed to Amaechi’s tenure as Director-General for Muhammadu Buhari’s 2015 and 2019 campaigns, noting that Buhari failed to secure even 25 percent of the vote in Rivers State during those periods. Furthermore, Wike highlighted that in the 2023 election, despite Amaechi backing Atiku, the former Vice-President failed to reach 15 percent of the vote in the region.
The FCT Minister concluded by questioning the substance of Amaechi’s political legacy. He argued that holding past titles as governor or minister does not equate to being an asset if the individual no longer commands a following or has failed to deliver tangible benefits to the citizens of Rivers State.
