The Rivers State chapter of the African Democratic Congress has told Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, that he has neither the legal nor moral authority to prevent its vice-presidential candidate and former Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, from campaigning in the state ahead of the 2027 general elections.
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The party said Rivers State belongs to its people and cannot be treated as the private political estate of any individual, insisting that Amaechi and the ADC are entitled to campaign freely and seek the votes of residents without requiring Wike’s permission.
The reaction followed comments attributed to Wike questioning Amaechi’s record as Rivers governor and warning that his campaign activities in the state could be made difficult. In separate remarks on Friday, Wike said it would be difficult for Amaechi to campaign in Rivers if he continued making comments the minister considered insulting to President Bola Tinubu’s supporters. Wike also called on the Independent National Electoral Commission to address inflammatory campaign rhetoric.
The Rivers ADC, however, said Wike had also raised allegations concerning Amaechi’s handling of public funds while governor and challenged the minister to take any evidence of wrongdoing to the appropriate law-enforcement agencies rather than deploy the allegations as a political weapon.
In a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Chizy Eneyi, the party questioned why Wike, who governed Rivers State for eight years after Amaechi left office, had not secured the prosecution of the former governor if the evidence against him was as compelling as he now suggested.
“If Wike possessed evidence of the monumental crimes he now alleges, why has he not ensured their prosecution?” the party asked.
“Eight years as Governor, yet the evidence apparently only comes out whenever Amaechi speaks. What an extraordinary coincidence!”
The party argued that political accusations made through the media could not take the place of evidence tested before a competent court.
“Television studios are not courtrooms, political insults are not evidence, and shouting allegations into microphones does not amount to securing a conviction,” Eneyi said.
Wike had questioned several projects and financial transactions associated with Amaechi’s administration, including expenditure on the Port Harcourt monorail, a proposed Justice Karibi-Whyte Hospital and the sale of state-owned power assets. Those remain allegations advanced by Wike, rather than findings made in the present political exchange.
Turning to the threat concerning campaign activities, the ADC described any suggestion that Amaechi could be prevented from campaigning in Rivers as troubling and inconsistent with the rights of political parties and candidates to conduct lawful electioneering.
“Since when did Rivers State become a private estate requiring the permission of Nyesom Wike before citizens can exercise their constitutional rights?” the party asked.
“Rivers State belongs to Rivers’ people, not to any individual, however powerful he imagines himself to be. Amaechi does not require Wike’s permission to visit, campaign or seek the votes of Rivers people. Neither does the ADC.”
The party urged security agencies to take note of political statements capable of being interpreted as threats to opposition campaign activities and to ensure that all candidates and political parties are able to exercise their rights peacefully during the election season.
“We consider this statement particularly troubling given the history of political intimidation and attacks on opposition activities in our state,” the ADC said.
It also questioned why the FCT Minister remained heavily involved in political exchanges concerning Amaechi, arguing that his official responsibilities were in Abuja rather than Rivers State.
“If Amaechi is as politically irrelevant as his detractors would have Nigerians believe, why does every statement he makes appear to require an emergency response from Wike?” the party asked.
“Sometimes, the loudest response is the clearest admission that the message has hit home.”
The latest exchange adds another layer to the long-running political rivalry between Wike and Amaechi, both former governors of Rivers State who have become prominent figures on opposing sides of the 2027 political contest.
Amaechi is now the ADC’s vice-presidential candidate. Earlier this week, he urged members of the party to put disputes arising from its primaries behind them and focus on the general elections, saying the opposition must unite if it hopes to compete effectively.
Wike, meanwhile, has repeatedly criticised Amaechi’s candidacy and political statements. In September, the Rivers ADC also pushed back against Wike after he predicted that Amaechi would be defeated by noon on election day, arguing that elections should be determined by voters rather than political boasts or intimidation.
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