ABUJA, Nigeria — Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to take action against former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi over remarks directed at President Bola Tinubu and his supporters ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Wike made the call on Friday in Abuja after a closed-door meeting with chairmen of the six FCT Area Councils and security operatives. He criticized what he described as personal attacks in political campaigns, insisting that candidates should focus on policies, programmes and issues affecting Nigerians.
According to reports, Amaechi, who is associated with the African Democratic Congress (ADC), made the controversial remarks during a party town hall meeting in Benin City, Edo State, on Thursday. His comments reportedly described those who would vote for Tinubu in 2027 as “mad” people and thieves.
Reacting to the remarks, Wike questioned why INEC had yet to publicly call Amaechi to order, arguing that political candidates should be held accountable for statements capable of heightening tensions during election campaigns.
“Many Nigerians have called INEC to sanction political parties and candidates or some politicians who, in their campaigns, incite the public or raise matters that are not issue-based,” the minister said.
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He also challenged media organizations to question opposition politicians over their campaign rhetoric, maintaining that political debates should centre on governance and policy proposals rather than personal insults.
Wike Questions Amaechi’s Record as Rivers Governor
Beyond the controversy surrounding the 2027 elections, Wike challenged Amaechi to explain several projects and financial transactions associated with his tenure as governor of Rivers State.
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The FCT minister raised questions about a reported $10 million fumigation contract involving a Cuban company, the state’s ₦68 billion monorail project and the reported sale of a state-owned gas turbine for $308 million.
Questioning the outcome of the fumigation programme, Wike said residents continued to experience mosquito bites despite the reported expenditure.
He also demanded explanations regarding the monorail project and the circumstances surrounding the gas turbine transaction, challenging Amaechi to provide Nigerians with details of the projects and their outcomes.
However, Wike did not present supporting documents for the allegations during the remarks reported by the media. The claims should therefore be understood as allegations raised by the minister rather than independently established findings.
Minister Warns Amaechi Over Campaign in Rivers
Wike also warned that Amaechi could face difficulties campaigning in Rivers State if he continued making remarks against Tinubu and his supporters.
“If he continues along this line, it may be difficult for him to campaign in Rivers. And I want somebody to go and write it down. Because we will not take that. We will not,” Wike said.
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The warning adds another dimension to the political contest ahead of the 2027 general elections, as disagreements over campaign language and political accountability continue to attract attention.
Wike Orders ‘No Work, No Pay’ Policy Over FCT Strike
The minister also addressed the strike declared by the FCT chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), describing the industrial action as politically motivated.
Wike maintained that the FCT Administration had met its obligations to local government workers and teachers, arguing that the issues raised by the union had either been resolved or were being addressed.
He subsequently directed the six Area Council chairmen to enforce a “no work, no pay” policy against workers participating in the strike.
The minister further stated that major education-related bodies, including the Universal Basic Education Board, had distanced themselves from the industrial action, insisting that there was no justification for keeping teachers away from classrooms.
Wike also accused the FCT NLC leadership of allowing political interests to influence the dispute. He specifically alleged that the union chairman, Stephen Knabayi, had political interests connected to the ADC.
The minister urged labour leaders involved in partisan politics to relinquish their union leadership positions to avoid conflicts of interest.
The allegations concerning the union leadership were presented by Wike, while the broader dispute over the strike reflects a disagreement between the FCT Administration and organized labour.
Crackdown on Unapproved Beer Parlours
In a separate directive, Wike ordered the removal of unapproved beer parlours operating along the Guzape-Asokoro axis of Abuja.
He warned that unauthorized commercial establishments could become security liabilities if permitted to operate without the necessary approvals.
The directive forms part of the administration’s stated efforts to address security concerns and regulate commercial activities within the FCT.
As political activities gradually intensify ahead of the 2027 general elections, Wike’s remarks have placed campaign conduct, accountability for public projects, labour relations and security enforcement at the centre of renewed public discussion.
