2027: ADC, Atiku Won’t Get 10% in Rivers — Wike Vows

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has declared that the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, will not secure up to 10 percent of the votes in Rivers State during the 2027 general elections.

Wike also vowed that no governorship candidate outside his political structure would emerge victorious in the state, insisting that the emerging Rainbow Coalition would determine the next governor of Rivers State.

The former Rivers State governor made the remarks on Saturday during a luncheon held in honour of candidates of the Rainbow Coalition ahead of the 2027 elections.

The coalition, according to him, comprises members of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Labour Party (LP) and Action Alliance (AA), who have aligned to form a common political front in the state.

Wike said the coalition would collectively select the governorship candidate among its agreed aspirants, stressing that no individual had been pre-selected or imposed as flag bearer.

He dismissed claims that Hon. Ogundu Kingsley Chinda had been anointed as the automatic governorship candidate of the coalition, describing such reports as inaccurate.

According to him, opposition parties such as the ADC and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) lack electoral strength in the state and would struggle to make significant impact in the forthcoming elections.

“ADC and NDC have not run election before. They do not understand election. They only understand defection,” Wike said.

He added that political loyalty would be measured by electoral performance, insisting that support for President Bola Tinubu would be demonstrated through votes rather than public declarations.

Wike further stated that Atiku Abubakar did not secure up to 10 percent of the vote in Rivers State in the 2023 election and insisted that the opposition would not improve on that performance in 2027.

“If he gets 10 percent which he did not get in 2023, it means he has gone higher. We will make sure ADC will not have 10% here,” he said.

He maintained that his coalition remains firmly in control of Rivers politics and expressed confidence that it would replicate past electoral victories in the forthcoming elections.