Rivers ADC Fires Back At Wike Over Amaechi Election Boast

The Rivers State chapter of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has criticised Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, over his claim that former Transportation Minister, Rotimi Amaechi, would be defeated by noon on election day.

The ADC said elections could not be won through boasts, intimidation or the pronouncements of political strongmen, insisting that Rivers voters would determine the outcome of the 2027 elections.

The party’s state chairman, Dr Chukwudi Dimkpa, made the position known in a statement in Port Harcourt, describing Wike’s conduct at a civic reception organised in his honour at Omagwa on Saturday as “political rascality taken too far”.

Wike had told supporters at the event, organised by the Rainbow Coalition, that candidates selected by the coalition would win the 2027 elections.

He was also quoted as saying Amaechi, who is expected to contest the 2027 presidential election as the ADC’s vice-presidential candidate, would be defeated by 12 noon on election day.

But Dimkpa said such statements were intended to create the impression that the election outcome had already been determined.

“Elections are not won by boasts, intimidation or political strongmen announcing results in advance. Rivers people will vote, the votes will be counted, and INEC, not Wike, will declare the winner,” he said.

The ADC chairman accused Wike and the Chairman of Ikwerre Local Government Area, Charles Wobodo, of insensitivity for holding the political reception along the route to Ubima on the same day Amaechi was burying his mother, Dame Ezinne Amaechi.

Dimkpa alleged that the event obstructed traffic and was used as a platform to attack and taunt Amaechi while he was mourning.

He described the development as “insensitive, provocative and embarrassing”, saying political rivalry should not override basic human considerations.

“There is always a time for politics and there is a time for humanity,” Dimkpa said, adding that the ADC deliberately refrained from responding to the alleged provocation on Saturday out of respect for the Amaechi family.

He said Rivers State belonged to all its citizens and that no politician could claim ownership of the people or their votes.

“Nobody owns the people, nobody owns their votes, and certainly, nobody can declare an election result by 12 noon,” he said.

Dimkpa urged Rivers residents to reject political intimidation ahead of the 2027 general elections and ensure that they freely choose their leaders at the ballot box.

He maintained that the electorate, rather than individual politicians, would ultimately determine the outcome of the election.