By Obah Sylva
Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike has challenged former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi to name one election he has won in Rivers since their political relationship ended in 2011, escalating their latest confrontation ahead of the 2027 elections.
Key Highlights
- Wike challenged Amaechi to identify an election he has won in Rivers since 2011.
- The FCT Minister questioned projects and spending from Amaechi’s eight years as Rivers governor.
- Wike raised questions about a reported $39.2 million hospital payment and the ₦68 billion monorail project.
- He also questioned spending on an anti-malaria fumigation programme involving Cuban partners.
- Amaechi had challenged the Tinubu administration to identify major projects completed under its watch.
- The latest exchange adds to the long-running political rivalry between the two former allies.
Wike issued the challenge on Saturday, October 3, 2026, during an interactive meeting with the Uzugbani Ekpeye National Executive Council, leaders and stakeholders from Ahoada East and Ahoada West Local Government Areas at Ekpeye House in Ahoada.
His remarks came a day after Amaechi criticised the Tinubu administration’s infrastructure record during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today.
Wike challenges Amaechi over election record
Wike’s central challenge focused on Amaechi’s electoral influence in Rivers State. Addressing the Ekpeye stakeholders, the FCT Minister asked Amaechi and his supporters to identify an election the former governor had won in the state since the two men parted ways.
“Since I left him in 2011, after 2011, mention one election that he has ever won in Rivers State,” Wike said.
The remark was part of a wider response to Amaechi’s criticism of the Federal Government’s record and his comments about infrastructure delivery.
Amaechi had challenged Tinubu government on projects
Amaechi appeared on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Friday, October 2, where he challenged the Tinubu administration to identify a major project completed since taking office.
The former Rivers governor and former Transportation Minister cited the Abuja-Kaduna railway as an example of infrastructure delivered during former President Muhammadu Buhari’s first term and asked the current administration to identify comparable completed projects.
Wike turned the challenge back toward Amaechi, questioning the record of projects implemented during his eight years as Rivers governor.
Wike questions hospital, monorail and fumigation spending
One project raised by Wike was the Justice Adolphus Karibi-Whyte Specialist Hospital. He questioned a reported $39.2 million payment to a contractor for the project and why the hospital was not completed.
The issue had previously been examined by a judicial commission established by the Rivers State Government during Wike’s tenure as governor. Wike’s remarks were framed as questions about the use and outcome of the funds, rather than as a new judicial finding against Amaechi.
The FCT Minister also questioned the ₦68 billion Rivers monorail project, asking what became of the project and the resources committed to it.
Wike further questioned reported spending of about $10 million on an anti-malaria fumigation programme involving Cuban partners, asking whether it had eliminated mosquito-related problems in Rivers State.
The comments formed part of Wike’s broader argument that political leaders should be assessed by the projects delivered and the outcomes of government spending during their time in office.
Wike also highlighted Amaechi’s time in senior public office, saying he spent eight years as Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, eight years as governor and eight years as Minister of Transportation. He questioned what projects or political empowerment Amaechi had attracted to Ekpeye land during those years.
Read also:
- Wike Challenges Amaechi’s 24-Year Record, Questions Development Legacy in Rivers
- Wike Slams Amaechi Over Claim Linking Mother’s Death to Tinubu’s Policies
- Rotimi Amaechi Vows to Resign If Nigeria Does Not Change Within One Year
Long-running rivalry returns to focus
The latest exchange is another chapter in the political rivalry between Wike and Amaechi. The two men were once political allies in Rivers State before their relationship deteriorated amid disagreements over political succession, party control and governance.
Amaechi later became a senior figure in the All Progressives Congress and served as Minister of Transportation under Buhari, while Wike served as Rivers governor before becoming FCT Minister. Their competing political positions have continued to feature in Rivers State’s political debates.
The exchange followed Amaechi’s October 2 Politics Today appearance, during which he said he would withdraw from the ADC ticket and campaign for President Bola Tinubu if petrol sold for ₦600 per litre.
Political activity is increasing ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections. Wike’s latest challenge focuses on Amaechi’s electoral record in Rivers and projects associated with his years in public office, while Amaechi’s recent comments have focused on the Tinubu administration’s infrastructure and economic record.
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