Atiku Hits Back at Wike's Vote Comments

The presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, Atiku Abubakar, has hit back at the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike. This is over Wike's recent claim that Atiku will not get 10% of votes in the upcoming general elections in Rivers State.

Wike, who used to be the Governor of Rivers State, said that Atiku and the ADC will not even get 10% of the total votes in the 2027 presidential election in the South South state.

He made this statement at a luncheon on Saturday. The event was held to honor candidates of the Rainbow Coalition for the 2027 elections in Rivers State.

Wike also claimed that no other candidate from any party would win the governorship election in 2027, except the one chosen by his Rainbow coalition.

Atiku responded on Monday through his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu. He said that the voters in Rivers State are smart enough to decide the outcomes of elections.

He pointed out that no one, no matter how powerful or connected they are, can control how the people of an entire state will vote.

Atiku mentioned that Wike's comments reveal the growing fear in the Tinubu camp about the rise of a strong opposition coalition led by the ADC.

He found it both funny and troubling that Wike seems to think that Rivers voters are his personal property to use as he pleases.

“Rivers votes are not your property. The people of Rivers State are not political slaves. They are intelligent, independent-minded Nigerians who will make their choices based on the realities confronting them and the future they desire for their children.

“No individual, regardless of influence or access to federal power, can dictate how an entire state will vote,” the statement read.

Atiku added that Nigerians are more worried about rising living costs, worsening insecurity, and economic hardships than the political forecasts of a minister who seems to have forgotten about governance and is focused on constant electioneering.