Chief Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory and former Governor of Rivers State, has issued a strong warning that former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and his African Democratic Congress (ADC) will not secure 10% of the votes in Rivers State during the 2027 general elections. Speaking at a luncheon in Port Harcourt to honour candidates of the Rainbow Coalition, Wike emphasized that only the coalition’s chosen candidate will win the governorship race in the state. He dismissed the ADC and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) as political newcomers with no electoral experience, accusing them of being more interested in defections than genuine political engagement.
Wike stressed that political commitment must be proven through electoral performance, not just public declarations of support. “It is not enough to come on TV to say President we love you,” he said. “You must show your commitment by how many votes you can deliver to win election. It is not to go and visit him in Lagos for visits.” He pointed to Atiku Abubakar’s 2023 presidential election result in Rivers State, where the former vice-president failed to secure even 10% of the votes. Wike declared it “very disheartening” if Atiku were to achieve 11% in the next election, adding that his coalition would ensure the ADC does not even reach that mark.
The minister further criticized Atiku and his party, calling them unprepared for the realities of electoral politics. “ADC and NDC have not run an election before,” Wike stated. “They do not understand election. They only understand defection.” He warned that Rivers State would be the testing ground for these parties, where they would experience the true nature of electoral competition. He emphasized that political success requires hard work, not just opportunistic alliances or media appearances.
Wike also highlighted the resilience of his political base, noting that his coalition had won elections in Rivers State even under conditions of intimidation. “We have won election in this state when there was intimidation,” he said. “Come to talk of now that there is no intimidation.” This confidence underscores the strength of the Rainbow Coalition’s grassroots support and its determination to maintain political dominance in the state.
As the 2027 elections draw closer, Wike’s remarks signal a high-stakes political battle in Rivers State, where loyalty, strategy, and voter mobilization will play crucial roles. His firm stance against the ADC and NDC reflects a broader effort to consolidate power within the Rainbow Coalition and prevent any challenge to its electoral dominance. The coming years will test not only the parties’ organizational capacity but also their ability to win over voters in one of Nigeria’s most politically significant states.
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