An African Democratic Congress, ADC, chieftain and former National Publicity Secretary of the defunct New Peoples Democratic Party, nPDP, Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, has criticised remarks attributed to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, where he said Chibuike Amaechi might be stopped from campaigning in Rivers State.
Amaechi, a former governor of Rivers State, is vice presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, ADC.
Wike had threatened to prevent Amaechi from campaigning in Rivers State for attacking the government of President Bola Tinubu, which he works for.
Eze reacted to Wike's comments during an engagement with stakeholders of Evo Kingdom in Obio-Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State.
The FCT minister reportedly questioned Amaechi’s contributions to Evo Kingdom and Rivers State during his 24 years in public service.
Eze said political disagreements should not prevent public officials and former office holders from having their records assessed objectively.
He questioned Wike’s continued focus on Amaechi and urged him to concentrate on his own record and responsibilities.
“It is becoming increasingly difficult to understand the FCT Minister’s persistent preoccupation with Amaechi. If Wike believes that repeatedly attacking his former political benefactor will enhance his relevance ahead of the 2027 general elections, then he is gravely mistaken,” Eze said.
He noted that Amaechi had served as Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, governor of Rivers State and Minister of Transportation under former President Muhammadu Buhari. According to Eze, these positions provide a basis for assessing Amaechi’s record based on his policies, projects and contributions to public service.
“Whether one agrees with Amaechi politically or not, it is intellectually dishonest to suggest that 24 years in public service amount to nothing. The proper question is not whether Wike approves of Amaechi, but whether the former governor’s policies, projects, institutional interventions and contributions to public life withstand objective examination,” he said.
Eze also expressed concern over the reported threat to prevent Amaechi from campaigning in Rivers State, saying political participation should be guided by democratic principles. He argued that voters should be allowed to hear from political candidates and decide whom to support without intimidation or exclusion.
"Threatening to prevent a political opponent from campaigning does not demonstrate political strength; it raises questions about confidence in the democratic process.
"In a constitutional democracy, no politician, irrespective of his present office, political influence or connections, should behave as though he possesses the authority to determine who may participate in lawful political activities,” Eze stated.
On the 2027 general elections, Eze said the outcome would depend on candidates, their programmes and the electorate’s assessment of their records. He also raised concerns about political realignments involving the Rainbow Coalition, warning that political alliances should reflect the interests of voters rather than individual ambitions.
Eze urged Wike to focus on his duties as FCT minister and called on Rivers residents to assess political actors based on their performance, policies and accountability. He maintained that the people of the state should be free to engage with competing political ideas and exercise their constitutional rights.
He concluded that Rivers State’s political future should be determined by its electorate, urging residents to reject intimidation and make informed choices during the 2027 elections.
2027: Eze reacts as Wike threatens to stop Amaechi from campaigning in Rivers