Wike Fires Atiku: He Won’t Get 10% Votes In Rivers

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has declared that the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, will not secure up to 10 per cent of votes in Rivers State during the 2027 presidential election.

Speaking at a luncheon organised in honour of candidates of the Rainbow Coalition for the 2027 general elections in Rivers State on Saturday, Wike expressed confidence that the coalition would remain the dominant political force in the state and determine the outcome of future elections.

According to political reports, the Rainbow Coalition is made up of members drawn from the All Progressives Congress (APC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Action Alliance (AA), and Labour Party (LP).

The former Rivers State governor argued that newer political platforms such as the ADC and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) lacked practical electoral experience, claiming their strength had largely been associated with attracting defectors from other parties rather than participating in and winning elections.

Wike maintained that genuine support for President Bola Tinubu should be measured by electoral performance rather than public declarations of loyalty or symbolic visits. He stressed that political allies must demonstrate their commitment by delivering substantial votes during elections.

Drawing comparisons with the 2023 presidential election, Wike noted that Atiku failed to secure up to 10 per cent of votes in Rivers State and insisted that the opposition figure would not improve on that performance in the next electoral cycle. He vowed that his political structure would ensure the ADC failed to achieve the 10 per cent mark in the state.

The FCT minister further stated that electoral success requires strategic grassroots mobilisation and hard work, adding that his political camp had previously won elections despite facing significant challenges and intimidation.

Wike also asserted that the Rainbow Coalition would play a decisive role in determining who emerges as the next governor of Rivers State from among candidates presented by the parties within the alliance. However, he clarified that no individual, including Ogundu Kingsley Chinda, had been automatically endorsed as the coalition’s preferred governorship candidate.

He also commended members of the Rivers State House of Assembly for what he described as their commitment to democratic principles and constitutional order. Wike particularly praised Speaker Martin Amaewhule and other lawmakers, saying their actions had contributed significantly to preserving democracy and political stability in the state.