2027 Election: Wike Mocks Amaechi Over Atiku Prediction, Says Less Than 200 People Attended Town Hall

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has mocked former Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, over his prediction about the 2027 presidential election, claiming fewer than 200 people attended his town hall meeting in Cross River State.

Wike spoke during his media chat on Tuesday while responding to suggestions that an emerging opposition ticket involving former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Amaechi could challenge President Bola Tinubu in 2027.

Recounting Amaechi’s remarks at the meeting, Wike said the former governor had expressed confidence in Atiku’s chances of winning the presidential election based on the regional backgrounds of the major contenders.

“I watched Amaechi, he had a town hall meeting in Cross River. I can tell you the numbers not up to 200 people,” Wike said.

According to the FCT minister, Amaechi argued that Atiku, being from the North, had an electoral advantage over Tinubu, Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate Peter Obi and former Cross River State Governor Donald Duke, whom he identified as southern candidates.

“He said, ‘Atiku is from where? North. Tinubu is from where? South. Obi is from where? South. Donald Duke is from where? South. Atiku has won the election,’” Wike recounted.

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The minister questioned Amaechi’s reasoning, particularly his reported suggestion that the election had effectively been decided based on the regional origins of the leading contenders.

“How can a vice-presidential candidate go to a town hall meeting, standing and telling his supporters, ‘Do you know how this election has been won?’” he asked.

When asked whether Amaechi’s argument was based on the belief that Atiku would enjoy an advantage as the leading northern candidate, Wike cited the 2023 presidential election, in which Atiku, Obi and Tinubu contested against one another.

“In 2023, Atiku ran, Obi ran, Tinubu ran, who won?” he asked.

Tinubu was declared the winner of the 2023 presidential election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), with Atiku finishing second and Obi third.

Wike, however, maintained that the political dynamics of the next presidential election would differ from those of 2023, warning against assumptions that the previous voting pattern would determine the outcome in 2027.

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“I’ve always told you people, 2027 will be totally different from 2023,” he said.