Amaechi has no electoral value in Rivers – Wike

Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike has described former Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi as a political liability, saying he has no electoral value in Rivers State or the South-South region.

Speaking during a media chat in Abuja on Tuesday, Wike questioned why anyone would choose Amaechi as a vice-presidential candidate.

He said, “If you are choosing a Vice Presidential candidate, a running mate, I’m 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.”

Wike argued that Amaechi had failed to deliver strong election results despite holding influential positions in different political campaigns.

He said, “He has never won a presidential election after 2011 when I was the Director of Campaign. Never. He was the Director-General of Buhari in 2015 when he was governor; why did he not get 25 per cent?”

He continued, “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?”

The FCT minister also challenged Amaechi to show what benefits Rivers State and the South-South gained during his time in the Federal Government.

Wike further accused Amaechi of political inconsistency, saying he had criticised the APC primary process but later accepted its outcome.

He said, “This was the same man, just one month ago, who said the APC primary is manual, irregularity, and corruption.”

He added, “How can we talk about removing a government that we are saying there is no election, and then we are in another election? The same man now is benefiting from the corruption, from irregularities of the same system.”

Wike also recalled Amaechi’s opposition to former President Goodluck Jonathan’s 2015 re-election bid, saying the South-South would not easily forget those actions.

He asked, “A South-South person wanted to go for a second term. You were proud you kicked him out. Now, will South-South be happy for you to be Vice President? You think that people have forgotten?”

Highlighting his own achievements, Wike said Rivers State is receiving more federal attention than at any time since 1999, pointing to projects such as the Bonny Road.

He said, “Never in the history of Rivers State, from 1999, of those who claimed to be very close to the President, have we had the type of attention that Rivers State has now.”