Politics
Wike Challenges Amaechi: “Name One Election You’ve Won Since 2011”
The FCT minister questioned Amaechi's electoral record in Rivers State and challenged him to identify an election he has won since their political split.
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has challenged former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi to name an election he has won in Rivers State since the two former allies parted ways in 2011.
Wike issued the challenge on Saturday while speaking at an interactive meeting with members of the Uzugbani Ekpeye National Executive Council and political leaders and stakeholders from Ahoada East and Ahoada West Local Government Areas of Rivers State.
The FCT minister was responding to comments by Amaechi during an appearance on Channels Television's Politics Today, where the former governor and former Transportation Minister criticised the Federal Government's record on infrastructure and project delivery.
Wike questioned Amaechi's electoral record in Rivers State, particularly his involvement in presidential campaigns in 2015 and 2019 and his support for former Vice President Atiku Abubakar in 2023.
“Since I left him in 2011, after 2011, mention one election that he has ever won in Rivers State,” Wike said.
He also disputed Amaechi's previous claims that election results had been manipulated against him, referring specifically to the 2019 and 2023 elections.
Wike said Amaechi was Director-General of Muhammadu Buhari's presidential campaign in 2019 while serving as Transportation Minister, but argued that the All Progressives Congress (APC) did not secure a significant enough share of the Rivers presidential vote.
He similarly referred to the 2023 election, when Amaechi supported Atiku, and argued that the result again did not demonstrate the electoral influence Amaechi claimed.
Beyond electoral politics, Wike questioned Amaechi's record during his eight years as Rivers governor.
He specifically raised the Justice Adolphus Karibi-Whyte Specialist Hospital, asking what happened to the funds reportedly paid to a contractor for the project and why the facility was not completed.
Wike cited a figure of about $39.2 million in connection with the hospital project. A judicial commission established by the Rivers State Government during Wike's administration had previously examined the payment and the project's failure to materialise.
The FCT minister also questioned the Rivers State monorail project, another major infrastructure initiative associated with Amaechi's administration, and referred to reported expenditure of about ₦68 billion.
Wike further criticised a malaria-control and fumigation programme involving Cuban partners, alleging that about $10 million was spent on the initiative.
He challenged residents to assess the records of politicians seeking their support by examining projects delivered, people empowered and the impact of their time in public office.
“Someone was Speaker of the House of Assembly for eight years, Governor for eight years, and Minister for eight years, that is 24 years in top leadership positions,” Wike said.
“What can anybody point to that he attracted to Ekpeye Land in all those 24 years? Nothing! Not one single thing!”
Wike's comments come as political activity intensifies ahead of the 2027 general elections. Amaechi is currently the African Democratic Congress (ADC) vice-presidential candidate.
The latest exchange adds to the longstanding political disagreement between the two former allies, who have increasingly criticised each other's records and political influence as the 2027 election approaches.