The African Democratic Congress has dismissed claims by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, that Rivers State is already secured for President Bola Tinubu ahead of the 2027 general election, accusing the former Rivers State governor of displaying anxiety over the growing strength of the opposition.

Wike had, during his monthly media briefing in Abuja on Tuesday, dismissed the political relevance of former Rivers State Governor and ADC vice-presidential candidate, Rotimi Amaechi, insisting that the state would deliver Tinubu in the next presidential election.

Wike said Rivers State remained firmly aligned with Tinubu and challenged those counting on the state for opposition votes to reconsider their calculations.

He described Amaechi as lacking the electoral strength to determine the outcome of elections in Rivers, arguing that the former governor had failed to deliver significant votes in previous presidential contests despite holding strategic positions.

He argued that Amaechi’s influence had steadily diminished over the years and insisted that the state’s political structure remained firmly under his control and committed to Tinubu’s re-election bid.

The minister also revisited the political events that led to the defeat of former President Goodluck Jonathan in the 2015 election, accusing Amaechi of playing a central role in Jonathan’s ouster while later failing to sustain his own political strength in Rivers State.

According to Wike, Rivers would again line up behind Tinubu in 2027.

“If anybody is counting Rivers, go now and cancel it. The only person that can count Rivers is Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

“I am not talking because I want to talk; I am talking as a political realist, because I know my people,” he said.

Wike also questioned the decision of the ADC to join Amaechi with its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, suggesting that his nomination could have been more financial, rather than a reflection of voting strength.

“I am sure the only factor that has been used to choose Rotimi Amaechi may be financial because the former governor lacks the capacity to deliver votes.

“He has never won a presidential election after 2011 when I was the Director of Campaign. He was the Director-General of Buhari in 2015 when he was governor; why did he not get 25%?

“He was the DG in 2019 when he was a super minister; why did he not get 25%? He supported Atiku in 2023; how come he didn’t get 15%?” he queried.

Speaking on the political crisis in the state, Wike said the development ended Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s second-term ambition.

He insisted that Fubara’s political misfortune was self-inflicted, insisting that the governor ignored repeated advice not to dismantle the political structure that produced him.

According to him, associates who had initially opposed Fubara’s emergence as governor later infiltrated his camp and encouraged him to confront his political benefactors.

“Those who didn’t want you to be governor now became your friends. Obviously, they will destroy you, thinking that coming closer to you is to fight us.

“At the end of the fight, I have not lost anything. What have I lost? Nothing. But you have lost. You intended to go for a second term, is it not correct? And you are not going,” Wike said.

The minister maintained that he still had affection for Fubara despite their prolonged political feud.

“If I don’t love him, why would we support him?” he said.

Wike disclosed that although efforts were made to reconcile both camps, political considerations eventually frustrated the process.

“There was a time we all thought, we all agreed, and said, ‘Look, can we allow bygones to be bygones?’ But something fundamental came up in politics.

“They said, ‘Look, if you allow this now, there are those who are here who want to see that we are no longer politically relevant,’” he said.

He also alleged that external interests viewed Rivers State as “a cash cow” and encouraged Fubara to resist his political camp.

“There are external forces who want to hijack Rivers State. You don’t allow them to hijack Rivers State. Some see Rivers State as a cash cow,” he said.

The crisis between both men began shortly after Fubara assumed office in 2023 and culminated in a six-month state of emergency declared by the President in 2025.

Fubara later defected to the All Progressives Congress, withdrew from the 2026 governorship race, and subsequently rejoined Wike’s political family in Rivers State, the Rainbow Coalition.

On the crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party, Wike launched a fresh attack on PDP Board of Trustees member, Chief Bode George.

He alleged that George occupied a residence in Abuja’s Maitama District funded with Rivers State Government funds and challenged the elder statesman to deny the allegation.

“I want to tell you something about Bode George. When they talk about corruption, ask him: the house he is living in, Maitama, is it not Rivers State government money? People like you are the fathers of corruption,” Wike said.

He criticised George for repeatedly accusing the judiciary of corruption whenever court judgments went against him.

“Each time you lose a case, the judiciary is corrupt. Until when you win, that’s only when the judiciary is not corrupt,” he added.

George had recently petitioned the National Judicial Council over the July 17 judgment of the Federal High Court dismissing a suit filed by the Adolphus Wabara-led faction of the PDP BoT and awarding N140m costs against the plaintiffs.

The minister insisted that conflicting court judgments did not automatically imply corruption, urging politicians to read and understand court decisions instead of attacking judges.

Wike also criticised the Archbishop Emeritus of the Catholic Archdiocese of Abuja, Cardinal John Onaiyekan, over his repeated criticism of the Tinubu administration.

He argued that religious leaders should remain balanced in their interventions and avoid creating the impression of political partisanship.

“I am not against comments about government. Government needs criticism. But if your comments are always nothing positive, then government must worry about you.

“Government will begin to think that you are merely criticising because you’re opposed to the government,” he said.

The minister further claimed that many religious leaders openly took political positions during the 2023 general election.

“Don’t tell me non-partisans. We know ourselves in this country. We know who belongs to where,” he stated.

Speaking on security, Wike disclosed that the Federal Capital Territory Administration was considering banning commercial motorcycles and tricycles from parts of the Abuja city centre following intelligence reports linking them to criminal activities.

He said the FCT security council had already recommended the move, adding that security agencies had been directed to identify areas where the restrictions should apply.

“Beyond constituting a nuisance, they have become a security threat.

“From our security reports, bandits, when they don’t act, they use motorcycles,” he said.

He, however, ruled out a territory-wide ban, saying such a measure would be impracticable because of Abuja’s size and transportation needs.

The minister also lamented the recurring influx of beggars into the nation’s capital despite repeated evacuation exercises, saying many returned shortly after being taken back to their states of origin.

Reacting to Wike over his attempt to denigrate Amaechi, the ADC said his remarks in several fora showed he was afraid of growing opposition against the administration he was working for.

The opposition party also dismissed Wike’s statement that the 2027 election in Rivers State was settled for Tinubu.

The Rivers State ADC Publicity Secretary, Chizi Enyi, in a statement issued in Port Harcourt on Tuesday and sent to newsmen, said Wike was struggling in vain to undermine Amaechi’s political relevance, not only in Rivers but Nigeria at large.

He wondered why the FCT minister who claimed that the opposition posed no threat was busy expending time and resources attacking the people he alleged had no political value.

“The attention of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Rivers State chapter, has been drawn to the latest media outburst by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Chief Nyesom Wike, in which he launched yet another barrage of attacks against the leader of our party, His Excellency Rt Hon Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, while desperately attempting to convince Rivers people that the 2027 election is already settled.

“Ordinarily, we would not dignify such comments with a response. However, it is necessary to set the record straight.

“It is ironic that a man who has repeatedly claimed that the opposition poses no threat has continued to devote so much time and energy attacking the very people he says have no electoral value.

“Such contradictions betray anxiety rather than confidence,” the statement read.

It added, “Chief Wike’s attempt to rewrite political history will not erase the undeniable fact that Rt Hon Chibuike Amaechi remains one of the most consequential political leaders to emerge from Rivers State.

“His (Amaechi’s) record in governance, public service, and national leadership speaks for itself and does not require validation from those who measure politics solely by personal loyalty and political convenience.

“The minister’s repeated references to previous elections conveniently ignore the reality that elections are determined by the Nigerian people under prevailing political circumstances. Every election is unique, and 2027 will be no exception.”

It added that Rivers people were not interested in endless political quarrels or personality clashes.

“They are concerned about the economy, insecurity, unemployment, poor infrastructure, the welfare of ordinary citizens, and the growing hardship across the country. These are the issues that deserve the attention of public officeholders.

“It is also curious that the minister now seeks to present himself as the sole custodian of Rivers State’s political destiny.

“Rivers State belongs to its people, not to any individual. No one possesses the exclusive right to determine how Rivers people will vote.

“The ADC remains focused on offering credible leadership, responsible governance, and practical solutions to the challenges confronting our state and nation,” the statement added.

Enyi said the ADC would continue to engage Rivers people with its vision and programmes rather than descend into unnecessary exchanges of insults.

“As for the boast that only one political party can win Rivers State, democracy is decided by the electorate, not by media declarations. The people will have the final say in 2027.

“We, therefore, advise Chief Wike to concentrate on the enormous responsibilities of administering the Federal Capital Territory and allow Rivers people the freedom to make their democratic choices without intimidation, propaganda, or political grandstanding.

“The ADC remains confident that truth, performance, and the will of the people will ultimately prevail,” Enyi added.