Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has said that former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi made a political miscalculation by seeking the presidential ticket of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) ahead of the 2027 general election.
Speaking during a media chat in Abuja, Wike reflected on his longstanding relationship with Amaechi, under whom he served as Chief of Staff during his tenure as governor of Rivers State. The FCT minister described Amaechi as a close associate and suggested that he would have discouraged him from entering the ADC presidential race if he had been consulted beforehand.
According to Wike, the internal structure and leadership arrangement within the ADC indicated from the outset that Amaechi would face significant obstacles in securing the party’s presidential nomination. He argued that the circumstances surrounding the party’s leadership made it difficult to expect a transparent and competitive selection process.
The minister specifically pointed to the appointment of former Senate President David Mark as chairman of the ADC, stating that the development reinforced his belief that the presidential ticket was unlikely to be contested on a level playing field. In his view, the party’s configuration appeared to favour former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, making it challenging for other aspirants to compete fairly.
Wike also alleged that Amaechi was persuaded to join the race by individuals who have been vocal critics of President Bola Tinubu’s administration. He maintained that the former Rivers governor may have been encouraged to make the move without fully considering the political realities within the party.
The FCT minister further revisited events surrounding the Peoples Democratic Party’s 2022 presidential primary election. He accused David Mark of failing to ensure fairness during the process that eventually produced Atiku Abubakar as the party’s presidential candidate, suggesting that similar concerns could arise in the ADC.
Despite his criticism of Amaechi’s decision, Wike emphasized the personal bond between them and insisted that his assessment was based on political experience and observation.
In his words, “Amaechi is my brother. I served as Chief of Staff in his government. When I saw that he was running with them, I knew what would happen. If he had called me, I would have said, ‘Don’t go there.’ It was very clear he would not get transparency or due process.”
