Wike Mocks Amaechi Over 2027 Prediction, Says Fewer Than 200 Attended His Town Hall Meeting

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Barr. Nyesom Wike, has challenged former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi’s prediction about the outcome of the 2027 presidential election, questioning the strength of his political support following a town hall meeting in Cross River State.

Wike, who spoke during his media chat on Tuesday, claimed that fewer than 200 people attended the meeting where Amaechi reportedly argued that former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar was positioned to win the 2027 election because of the regional distribution of the major presidential contenders.

The FCT minister’s remarks followed a question on whether the emerging opposition alliance involving Atiku and Amaechi posed a threat to supporters of President Bola Tinubu ahead of the next presidential election.

Recounting Amaechi’s argument, Wike said the former governor had based his prediction on the geographical origins of the leading contenders.

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

According to him, Amaechi had told the gathering that Atiku was from the North, while Tinubu, Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate Peter Obi and former governor Donald Duke were from the South, concluding that Atiku had already won the election.

Wike questioned the basis of such a conclusion, particularly coming from a politician expected to play a significant role in the opposition’s electoral strategy.

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

The minister also challenged the assumption that Atiku’s northern base would automatically give him an advantage over his southern rivals, pointing to the outcome of the 2023 presidential election.

“In 2023, Atiku ran, Obi ran, Tinubu ran. Who won?” Wike asked.

Tinubu won the 2023 presidential election ahead of Atiku and Obi, who finished second and third, respectively.

Wike, however, cautioned against using the previous election as a definitive guide to the next contest, insisting that the political dynamics in 2027 would be different.

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

The exchange highlights the emerging political contest over the strength of opposition alliances and the electoral implications of regional voting patterns ahead of the 2027 presidential election.