Wike Writes Off Atiku/Amaechi, Obi/Kwankwaso Tickets

Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, has said the Atiku/Amaechi and Obi/Kwankwaso tickets cannot defeat the Tinubu/Shettima ticket in next year’s presidential election.
Speaking during his monthly media chat, Wike dismissed the ambitions of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who is running under the African Democratic Congress (ADC) alongside running mate and former Transportation Minister, Rotimi Amaechi, saying the ticket “cannot fly.” He also described the chances of Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) candidate, Peter Obi, as “dead-on arrival.”
Defending the Tinubu administration’s economic reforms, Wike said the policies were necessary to reverse years of economic decline and lay the foundation for sustainable growth. He credited the President with the political courage to end the petrol subsidy regime, describing it as a major drain on national resources that previous administrations had failed to address.
Wike accused Obi of playing “politics of sentiment,” alleging that some of his public engagements were choreographed to attract sympathy rather than reflect genuine leadership. He contrasted this with his own record as Rivers State governor, saying, “I never celebrated my birthdays in IDP camps or motherless babies’ homes simply because I wanted public sympathy.”
On Atiku, Wike pointed to past remarks by former President Olusegun Obasanjo as sufficient warning to Nigerians, saying, “The person who should give him the best testimonial has already warned Nigerians. What other testimony do you need?”
He was similarly dismissive of Amaechi, describing him as a “political liability” with no electoral value in Rivers State and the South-South, and questioned the rationale behind his selection as running mate, suggesting it may have been driven by financial considerations rather than voting strength. Wike cited Amaechi’s electoral record, noting he had not secured up to 25 per cent of votes in Rivers State in previous election cycles despite holding senior campaign and ministerial roles.