Nyesom Wike has strongly dismissed Rotimi Amaechi’s 2027 presidential ambition, calling it impossible.
He insists Amaechi has consistently failed in major elections despite holding key political positions.
FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, has dismissed former Transport Minister Rotimi Amaechi’s 2027 presidential ambition, saying it is “dead on arrival.”
Wike made the remarks during an interview on Channels Television, aired on Tuesday night, August 19, and monitored in Abuja. He argued that Amaechi would be the last person considered for his party’s presidential ticket, given his track record in past elections.
According to the former Rivers State governor, Amaechi’s political record shows repeated losses despite holding powerful positions at various times. He recalled that between 2014 and 2015, when Amaechi was governor of Rivers State, the opposition still triumphed over him. Wike further noted that in 2019, when Amaechi served as Minister of Transportation and Director-General of President Muhammadu Buhari’s campaign, the results in Rivers also went against him. He added that even in 2023, when Amaechi aligned with another presidential aspirant, he failed once again.
“The last person they will give a ticket to is Amaechi. That ambition is dead on arrival. He has been defeated before as governor, as minister, and even while supporting another candidate. So, where is the capacity to win coming from?” Wike asked rhetorically.
Turning to the issue of former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal, Wike claimed that Lawal’s hostility towards President Bola Tinubu stems from his unmet expectation of being chosen as vice president. He alleged that Lawal, accompanied by a former Speaker of the House of Representatives, visited him in Port Harcourt shortly after Tinubu announced his running mate, expressing disappointment.
“What was his anger? His anger was that he thought the President would have chosen him as the vice presidential candidate. Having not done that, he became bitter. That is very obvious,” Wike said.
The minister criticized Lawal’s continued attacks on the president, insisting that not every decision of government requires direct contact with the president, as ministers and advisers exist to represent him.
Wike also addressed the case of former Sokoto State governor, Aminu Tambuwal, who was recently invited by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). He advised Tambuwal to respond to the anti-graft agency’s queries and clear his name rather than politicizing the matter.
