The minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike has told African Democratic Congress (ADC) vice-presidential candidate Rotimi Amaechi to count Rivers State out of the party’s plans ahead of the 2027 general election.
Wike made the remark while speaking during a visit to the Uzugbani Ekpeye National Executive Council at Ekpeye House in Ahoada, Ahoada East Local Government Area of Rivers State.
The minister was reacting to Amaechi’s recent comments, including a statement concerning his resignation from former president Muhammadu Buhari’s cabinet and his pledge to secure ADC victory.
Wike referred to an interview Amaechi granted AIT, challenging the former Rivers State governor over his claim that he had technically resigned from Buhari’s government as minister.
“Now, look at the man. He said that he technically resigned. Technically, he said so. I didn’t say so. One-on-one with AIT,” Wike said.
“So, if you want to watch, watch it on AIT. And so, what kind of character is that?”
Wike then suggested that members of the ADC could eventually reconsider the move to bring Amaechi to the party.
“I believe ADC, anywhere they are, will say, ‘What kind of mistake did we make?’” he said.
He subsequently declared that Rivers State should not be counted among the areas Amaechi and the ADC would rely on ahead of the 2027 election.
“All I can say is, whether he says it’s by rigging, according to him, or by whatever he calls it, they should count Rivers State out of it,” Wike said.
Amaechi is a former governor of Rivers State and former Minister of Transportation.
Wike, who previously served as governor of Rivers State, also criticised Amaechi over his claim that President Bola Tinubu’s economic policies contributed to the death of his mother.
Amaechi had alleged during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today that the rising cost of medication under the Tinubu administration made it difficult for him to afford the drugs his mother needed.
“The policies Tinubu introduced are killing people. I lost my mother because of the policies. We have lost people. President Tinubu’s policies killed my mother,” Amaechi said.
He also stated, “Before Tinubu became President, my mother was healthy. Suddenly, when Tinubu came, it became difficult to buy drugs for my mother. I did the best I could in taking care of my mother.”
Wike rejected the claim and questioned why Amaechi, after holding several senior political offices, could not obtain the resources needed to care for his mother.
Amaechi served as Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly from 1999 to 2007, governor of the state from 2007 to 2015 and Minister of Transportation from 2015 to 2023.
“And your mother was sick, and you are telling the whole world that because of the policy of Tinubu, you couldn’t buy drugs for your mother, and so your mother died,” Wike said.
Wike also questioned why Amaechi did not seek assistance from people close to him if the cost of his mother’s treatment had become difficult to meet.
“But you have told the world that your wife is an industrialist. Yet, your industrialist couldn’t give you money to buy drugs for your mother?” he asked.
Amaechi’s mother, Mary Amaechi, died on July 16, 2026, at the age of 89.
