Amaechi: ADC Fires Back At Wike Over Claims To Deliver Rivers To Tinubu
The Rivers State chapter of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, has fired back at the immediate past governor of the state and minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, over his claims that the party’s 2027 vice-presidential candidate, Rotimi Amaechi, would be defeated by noon on election day, describing the boast as political grandstanding.
The Rivers State chapter of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, has fired back at the immediate past governor of the state and minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, over his claims that the party’s 2027 vice-presidential candidate, Rotimi Amaechi, would be defeated by noon on election day, describing the boast as political grandstanding.
ADC insisted that elections are not won through boasts, intimidation or the declaration of results before voters have cast their ballots.
In a statement in Port Harcourt on Monday, the state chairman of the party, Dr Chukwudi Dimkpa, noted that the comments made by Wike at a civic reception organised in his honour by the City Boy Movement in Omagwa, Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State, on Saturday was more revealing of the minister’s political mindset than the strength of his electoral support.
ADC insisted that elections are not won through boasts, intimidation or the declaration of results before voters have cast their ballots.
In a statement in Port Harcourt on Monday, the state chairman of the party, Dr Chukwudi Dimkpa, noted that the comments made by Wike at a civic reception organised in his honour by the City Boy Movement in Omagwa, Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State, on Saturday was more revealing of the minister’s political mindset than the strength of his electoral support.
“Elections are not won by boasts, intimidation or political strongmen announcing results in advance. Rivers people will vote, the votes will be counted, and INEC, not Wike, will declare the winner.
"This is political rascality taken too far.
“On a day when Rotimi Amaechi was burying his mother and people from across Nigeria were travelling to Ubima to commiserate with the family, Wike and the Chairman of Ikwerre Local Government Area chose that same route and occasion for a political reception, obstructing part of the road, creating unnecessary traffic and then turning the event into a platform for attacking and taunting a man who was mourning his mother.
“On a day when Rotimi Amaechi was burying his mother and people from across Nigeria were travelling to Ubima to commiserate with the family, Wike and the Chairman of Ikwerre Local Government Area chose that same route and occasion for a political reception, obstructing part of the road, creating unnecessary traffic and then turning the event into a platform for attacking and taunting a man who was mourning his mother.
“We refused to dignify the provocation with a response that day because our attention was on giving Mama, Dame Ezinne Amaechi, a befitting burial,” he said.
The ADC chairman further condemned the timing and conduct of the reception, noting that the event was held along the route to Ubima as people travelled to attend the burial of Amaechi’s mother, Dame Ezinne Amaechi.
He stressed that Wike and the Chairman of Ikwerre Local Government Area, Charles Wobodo, turned what should have been a solemn period into an opportunity for political attacks against Amaechi, describing the development as insensitivity and provocative conduct.
According to Dimkba, there should be a distinction between political contest and basic humanity, arguing that Wike’s inability to suspend his rivalry with Amaechi even during the former governor’s bereavement raised questions about the nature of their political conflict.
Dimkpa further said the ADC deliberately refrained from responding to Wike’s comments on Saturday because its priority was ensuring that Amaechi’s mother received a befitting burial, warning that Rivers State could not be treated as the personal political territory of any individual, as the electorate would ultimately determine the outcome of the 2027 elections.
“Wike should understand that Rivers State belongs to all of us. Nobody owns the people, nobody owns their votes, and certainly, nobody can declare an election result by 12 noon,” he added, and then,
urged Rivers voters not to succumb to intimidation or political pressure ahead of the 2027 elections.
He also, asked the electorate to scrutinise the records and credibility of political candidates before making their choices, pointing out that the state deserved a leader capable of improving the lives of its people.
He stressed that Wike and the Chairman of Ikwerre Local Government Area, Charles Wobodo, turned what should have been a solemn period into an opportunity for political attacks against Amaechi, describing the development as insensitivity and provocative conduct.
According to Dimkba, there should be a distinction between political contest and basic humanity, arguing that Wike’s inability to suspend his rivalry with Amaechi even during the former governor’s bereavement raised questions about the nature of their political conflict.
Dimkpa further said the ADC deliberately refrained from responding to Wike’s comments on Saturday because its priority was ensuring that Amaechi’s mother received a befitting burial, warning that Rivers State could not be treated as the personal political territory of any individual, as the electorate would ultimately determine the outcome of the 2027 elections.
“Wike should understand that Rivers State belongs to all of us. Nobody owns the people, nobody owns their votes, and certainly, nobody can declare an election result by 12 noon,” he added, and then,
urged Rivers voters not to succumb to intimidation or political pressure ahead of the 2027 elections.
He also, asked the electorate to scrutinise the records and credibility of political candidates before making their choices, pointing out that the state deserved a leader capable of improving the lives of its people.
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