2027: Atiku, ADC won’t get 10% in Rivers – Wike boasts

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has vowed that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and the African Democratic Congress will not secure up to 10 per cent of votes in Rivers State in the 2027 presidential election.

Wike made the declaration on Saturday at a luncheon held in honour of candidates of the Rainbow Coalition ahead of the 2027 general elections in the state.

The Rainbow Coalition in Rivers is made up of members of the All Progressives Congress, Peoples Democratic Party, Labour Party and Action Alliance.

Speaking at the event, Wike said the coalition would determine the next governor of Rivers State, insisting that no candidate outside the coalition would win the governorship election.

He, however, said it had not been concluded that Kingsley Chinda had been anointed as the automatic governorship candidate of the coalition.

Wike dismissed the ADC and the National Democratic Congress, saying both parties lacked electoral experience.

According to him, the 2027 election would expose them to the reality of politics in Rivers State.

“ADC and NDC have not run election before. They do not understand election. They only understand defection. This is the time they will see election practical. They will have the experience and they will see what is in election starting from Rivers State,” Wike said.

He said political loyalty should be measured by votes delivered during elections, not by public statements or visits to political leaders.

“It is not enough to come on TV to say, President, we love you. You show your commitment by how many votes you can deliver to win election. It is not to go and visit him in Lagos,” he added.

The former Rivers governor claimed Atiku did not secure up to 10 per cent of votes in Rivers State in the 2023 presidential election, adding that the coalition would ensure he performs even worse in 2027.

“Atiku Abubakar in 2023 never got 10 per cent in Rivers State. It will be very disheartening that he will get 11 per cent in Rivers State in the next election.

“If he gets 10 per cent, which he did not get in 2023, it means he has gone higher. We will make sure ADC will not have 10 per cent here.

“A man who is not ready for work, but ready when food is ready, is not available in the state. You must work hard,” Wike said.

He added that his political camp had won elections in Rivers State under more difficult circumstances and would do so again in 2027.

“We have won election in this state when there was intimidation, come to talk of now that there is no intimidation,” he said.

Wike also commended members of the Rivers State House of Assembly led by Speaker Martin Amaewhule, saying they stood firm during the political crisis in the state.

“The history of this state cannot be complete if they don’t include you and your colleagues. You stood by truth and you defended democracy. Without you, it would have been difficult for us to be here today,” he said.