The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Chief Nyesom Wike, has vowed that former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar will not secure up to 10% of the total votes in Rivers State in the upcoming general elections. Wike made this declaration during a luncheon held in honour of the candidates of the Rainbow Coalition in the state.
The former governor of Rivers State emphasized that his political coalition maintains a firm grip on the state’s electorate. He maintained that no external candidate from any opposition party would be able to claim victory in the state without the endorsement of his political structure.
Wike reminded the gathering of the outcomes of the 2023 presidential election to back his assertions. He noted that Atiku failed to reach the 10% threshold in Rivers State during the previous cycle, and promised that the opposition would perform even lower in the next poll.Atiku Abubakar in 2023 never got 10% in Rivers State,” Wike stated. “It will be very disheartening that he will get 11 percent in Rivers State in the next election. If he gets 10% which he did not get in 2023, it means he has gone higher. We will make sure of it.”
The FCT Minister also dismissed the capacity of newer opposition parties, specifically referencing the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC). He alleged that these parties lack proper electoral experience and are only familiar with political defections rather than grassroot mobilization.
Wike argued that real political influence is measured by the ability to deliver actual votes on election day, rather than making media appearances or visiting leadership figures. He concluded that his political block has successfully won heavily contested elections in the state in the past, and will comfortably replicate that success to limit opposition votes.
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