The presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has strongly responded to FCT Minister Nyesom Wike’s recent assertion that the former Vice President would fail to secure even 10% of votes in Rivers State during the 2027 general elections.
Phrank Shaibu, Atiku’s Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, issued a statement declaring that the people of Rivers State are fully capable of determining their own electoral destiny. He emphasized that no politician, no matter how powerful or well-connected, can claim ownership over an entire state’s electorate.
Shaibu accused Wike’s comments of revealing growing anxiety within the Tinubu administration following the emergence of a strong opposition coalition under the ADC banner. He argued that everyday Nigerians are far more preoccupied with skyrocketing living costs, deteriorating security, and economic struggles than with the predictions of a minister who seems obsessed with campaigning instead of governing.
Calling the minister’s remarks both amusing and troubling, Atiku’s camp insisted that Rivers voters are not political assets to be distributed at will. “The votes of Rivers are not yours to command. Rivers citizens are not enslaved politically. They are intelligent and independent individuals who will decide based on their own experiences and hopes for their children’s future,” Shaibu stated. He reinforced that no single individual, regardless of federal influence, can impose a voting pattern on an entire state.