‘Dead on arrival’ — Wike dismisses Amaechi’s 2027 presidential ambition

The minister of the federal capital territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has dismissed Rotimi Amaechi’s presidential ambition, describing it as “dead on arrival.”

Wike, speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Tuesday, argued that the former minister of transportation knew he stood no chance of winning the ticket of the African Democratic Congress.

Amaechi had earlier declared that he could defeat President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election if he secured the ADC’s nomination.

He further promised to amend the constitution to replace indigeneship with citizenship and pledged to end corruption within one month if elected.

“If I become president, I will change the constitution from indigeneship to citizenship. If I do not end corruption in Nigeria within one month, I will tender my resignation,” Amaechi had said.

But Wike dismissed the comments, insisting that Nigerians were aware that Amaechi’s political strength had waned since the 2022 APC primary.

“He knows he won’t get the ticket,” Wike said.

“I read that he said he knows the weaknesses of the president, so he knows how to defeat him. But he also knew the weaknesses of the president in 2022 when the president defeated him mercilessly in the primary. Nigerians know the last person they will give a ticket to because they know it (Amaechi’s bid) is dead on arrival.”

Tinubu had defeated Amaechi in the APC presidential primary of 2022, where the former governor of Rivers finished in second place.

Wike also accused Amaechi of lacking integrity on issues of governance and corruption, alleging that his time as Rivers governor was marked by disregard for the judiciary and rule of law.

Amaechi governed Rivers State from 2007 to 2015, before handing over to Wike.

The two politicians, who once worked as allies, have remained political adversaries since then.