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 reconsider his reported alignment with former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, insisting that the South should retain the presidency until 2031.
Abe had challenged Amaechi to uphold his previous position on power rotation between the North and South, arguing that supporting Atiku would contradict the principle.
The two political leaders spoke at the unveiling of Rivers State Rainbow Coalition candidates in Port Harcourt, where Wike rallied political stakeholders behind President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027.
Abe argued that the South should retain the presidency in 2027 in the interest of fairness and political stability.
“On behalf of all of us here gathered 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 also urged Atiku to respect the principle of power rotation, declaring his support for Tinubu and the Rainbow Coalition.
Wike, in his remarks, called on Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members across the country to support Tinubu, regardless 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.
He extended the appeal to PDP members in Ondo, Ogun and other states, insisting that political differences should not prevent them from supporting Tinubu’s second-term ambition.
The FCT minister also questioned Atiku’s political consistency and criticised Amaechi’s record as Rivers governor between 2007 and 2015, revisiting promises made during his administration on malaria prevention and other development issues.
Wike further raised allegations concerning the management of funds during Amaechi’s tenure, citing a judicial panel of inquiry and subsequent court proceedings. The claims were not independently established at the event.
He said the Rainbow Coalition was committed to bringing politicians from different parties together behind Tinubu and candidates endorsed by the alliance in Rivers State.
Wike also urged political stakeholders to avoid actions capable of reigniting tensions in the state, stressing the importance of reconciliation and peaceful political engagement.
The event was attended by Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Abe and other political leaders and candidates from different parties, as the coalition seeks to strengthen its political base ahead of the 2027 general elections.