2027: Wike, Abe urge Amaechi to resign as Atiku’s running mate

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, on Tuesday backed Senator Magnus Abe’s call on former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi to resign as running mate to former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar.

Wike insisted that the South must retain the presidency until 2031.

Abe and Wike spoke in Port Harcourt during the official unveiling of candidates of the Rivers State Rainbow Coalition.

Abe said Amaechi should respect his previous position on power rotation between the North and South, arguing that supporting Atiku would contradict that principle.

“On behalf of all of us gathered here in Rivers State, we want to call on Amaechi to immediately respect his own position and resign as the vice-presidential candidate to Atiku Abubakar, because it is the turn of the South, and Rivers State will stand by the agreement between the North and the South,” Abe said.

He urged Atiku to respect power rotation and declared support for President Bola Tinubu and the Rainbow Coalition.

In his remarks, Wike called on members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) across the country to support Tinubu, irrespective of their party affiliations.

“Every PDP member in Rivers State, you will support Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Every PDP member in Kwara State, you will support Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Every PDP member in Benue State, you will support Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” he declared.

Wike also questioned Atiku’s political consistency and criticised Amaechi’s record as Rivers State governor between 2007 and 2015.

He maintained that the coalition was committed to uniting politicians from different parties behind Tinubu ahead of the 2027 elections, while urging stakeholders to avoid actions capable of reigniting tension in the state.

The event was attended by Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Abe and other leaders of the coalition.