2027: Wike Dismisses Atiku-Amaechi Ticket As Threat To Tinubu

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has questioned the strength of the opposition’s proposed Atiku Abubakar-Rotimi Amaechi ticket ahead of the 2027 general election, citing a campaign meeting in Cross River State.

Wike made the remarks on Tuesday, October 13, during his monthly media chat, while responding to a question about claims that the ticket was gaining traction in the North and causing concern among supporters of President Bola Tinubu.

The minister dismissed the suggestion that the African Democratic Congress (ADC) ticket was generating sleepless nights among the president’s allies, pointing to what he described as a poorly attended town hall meeting addressed by Amaechi in Cross River State.

“I watched Amaechi. He had a town hall meeting in Cross Rivers. I can’t tell you the number. They were not up to 200 people,” he added.

Wike also criticised Amaechi’s reported argument at the meeting that the opposition had already secured victory in the election based on the candidates’ regional origins.

READ ALSO: Tinubu Has Done Well, Opposition Just Wants Power — Wike

According to Wike, Amaechi asked attendees to consider the geographical backgrounds of the presidential contenders before declaring that Atiku had won.

“He told them, ‘this election has been won. Can I tell you how this election will be handled? Can I tell you how this election will be handled?’ They said, ‘tell us’,” Wike recounted.

He said Amaechi proceeded to identify Atiku as a northerner, while describing the other candidates mentioned at the meeting, including Peter Obi and Donald Duke, as southerners.

“Atiku is from where? North. Tell me from where? South. Obi’s from where? South. Donald Dukes from where? South. Atiku has won the election,” Wike quoted Amaechi as saying.

The FCT minister questioned the logic of such an argument, particularly at a town hall meeting involving political stakeholders.

“How can a presidential, vice presidential candidate, go to a town hall meeting, standing, and tell his supporters, do you know how this election has been won?” he asked.

Wike further challenged the suggestion that Atiku’s regional identity would automatically translate into electoral victory, referring to the 2023 presidential election, in which Atiku and Obi also contested.

“2023, Atiku Ran. Obi ran. Tinubu ran. Who is the new entrant now?” he said.