The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has dismissed the 2027 presidential ambition of former Transportation Minister, Rotimi Amaechi, describing it as “dead on arrival.”
Speaking on Politics Today, a Channels Television programme aired on Tuesday, Wike said Nigerians would not support Amaechi’s bid for the presidency, even under a new political platform.
Amaechi, who came second in the 2022 All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential primary, lost to then-Lagos governor Bola Tinubu. In 2025, he defected from the APC to join the African Democratic Congress (ADC), aligning himself with the opposition coalition aiming to unseat President Tinubu in the 2027 election.
However, Wike—a former Rivers State governor like Amaechi—said his predecessor has no viable path to securing the ADC presidential ticket, let alone winning a national election.
“He knows he won’t get the ticket,” Wike said. “I read where he claimed he knows the president’s weaknesses and how to defeat him. But he also knew those weaknesses in 2022, and the president still defeated him mercilessly in the APC primary.”
Wike further claimed that Amaechi lacks the political credibility to lead, citing his record during his time as governor of Rivers State from 2007 to 2015. According to Wike, Amaechi showed little regard for the judiciary and rule of law during his tenure.
“Nigerians know the last person they’ll give a presidential ticket to,” Wike added. “They know his ambition is dead on arrival.”
The rivalry between the two former governors has deepened over the years, especially since Wike succeeded Amaechi as Rivers State governor in 2015. Once political allies, their relationship has since deteriorated into open hostility.
Wike, currently a member of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), is the only non-APC minister in President Tinubu’s cabinet. His inclusion has sparked controversy within the PDP, where he has faced accusations of anti-party activities and fueling internal divisions.
