Former Rivers State Governor and African Democratic Congress (ADC) vice-presidential candidate Rotimi Amaechi has accused Senate President Godswill Akpabio of taking oil wells belonging to Cross River State during his tenure as governor of Akwa Ibom State. In a separate development, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike has declared himself the “commander of field operations” for President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 re-election campaign in the FCT.
Key Highlights
- Rotimi Amaechi has accused Godswill Akpabio of taking Cross River State’s oil wells.
- Amaechi made the allegation during a political town hall meeting in Calabar ahead of the 2027 elections.
- He claimed Akpabio had previously pursued oil wells belonging to Rivers State, a matter he said was challenged in court.
- The dispute over offshore oil wells between Cross River and Akwa Ibom has a long legal and political history.
- Nyesom Wike has declared himself the coordinator of Tinubu’s 2027 election campaign operations in the FCT.
- Wike says members of the APC and PDP will work together to support Tinubu’s re-election bid.
- The developments come as political parties and their allies intensify preparations for the 2027 elections.
Amaechi Accuses Akpabio Over Cross River Oil Wells
Amaechi made the allegation during a town hall meeting in Calabar organised to mobilise support ahead of the 2027 general elections.
He said his criticism of Akpabio was not simply because the Senate President belongs to the All Progressives Congress (APC), but because, according to him, Akpabio was aware of the circumstances surrounding the disputed oil wells.
Amaechi challenged Cross River residents to demand an explanation from Akpabio over the alleged transfer of the wells to Akwa Ibom State.
He also claimed that Akpabio had previously attempted to claim oil wells belonging to Rivers State but that the matter was challenged in court, where, according to Amaechi, Akwa Ibom lost.
The allegations have not been independently established by the statements cited in the reports, and no immediate public response from Akpabio to Amaechi’s specific claims was reported.
Cross River and Akwa Ibom’s Long-Running Oil Wells Dispute
Amaechi’s comments have revived attention on the longstanding dispute between Cross River and Akwa Ibom over offshore oil wells and the allocation of oil-derived revenue.
The dispute has historically involved approximately 76 offshore oil wells and has been shaped by legal decisions and changes to maritime boundaries following the cession of the Bakassi Peninsula.
Previous Supreme Court judgments have favoured Akwa Ibom in the dispute over the affected oil wells. Cross River has continued to pursue recognition of additional or re-verified wells within its claimed maritime boundaries and has sought the restoration of its oil-producing status.
The controversy has significant financial implications because oil-producing states receive revenue allocations linked to derivation under Nigeria’s revenue-sharing arrangements.
However, Amaechi’s latest allegations against Akpabio should be distinguished from the established legal history of the wider Cross River–Akwa Ibom dispute. The specific claims made at the Calabar meeting would require further evidence and responses from the parties involved.
Wike Declares Himself Tinubu’s FCT Campaign Field Commander
In a separate political development, Wike has announced that he will coordinate campaign operations for Tinubu in the FCT ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
The minister made the declaration on Monday during a Rainbow Coalition stakeholders’ meeting in Abuja attended by political figures from the APC and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), including party chairmen, senators, National Assembly candidates and area council leaders.
Speaking at the meeting, Wike said participants had agreed to support Tinubu’s re-election bid.
“For the presidency, all of us have agreed that it is Bola Ahmed Tinubu. I am going to coordinate the FCT and Rivers State,” he said.
He added: “I am in charge of the FCT election. I am the commander of field operations as far as the FCT election is concerned.”
The declaration signals Wike’s intention to play a central role in coordinating political mobilisation for Tinubu in the capital territory.
Wike Seeks APC-PDP Cooperation Ahead of 2027
Wike urged participants at the meeting to look beyond party affiliations and work together in support of Tinubu’s re-election campaign.
He also called for support for APC candidates contesting National Assembly seats in the FCT.
The Rainbow Coalition meeting reflected an effort to bring together political actors from different parties around a shared electoral objective.
Wike has previously maintained that he retains significant influence over political structures in Rivers State and the FCT, even while remaining associated with the PDP.
His latest declaration places him at the centre of a cross-party mobilisation effort ahead of the 2027 polls.
However, the extent of cooperation between APC and PDP members, and how the arrangement will operate during the campaign, will become clearer as the election approaches.
Read also:
- 2027 Elections: Wike Names Himself Tinubu Campaign Coordinator in FCT, Rivers
- APC Announces Tinubu’s 2027 Campaign Flag-Off Date as Wike-Amaechi Feud Escalates
- Rivers 2027: ADC Chieftain Accuses Wike of Undermining Kingsley Chinda’s Governorship Ambition
2027 Elections Intensify Political Positioning
Amaechi’s allegations and Wike’s campaign declaration highlight different aspects of the political contest taking shape ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 elections.
In the Niger Delta, the dispute over oil wells remains tied to questions of state boundaries, resource ownership and revenue allocation. Amaechi’s comments have brought renewed political attention to Cross River’s longstanding claims.
In the FCT and Rivers State, Wike’s declaration points to efforts to organise political support for Tinubu across party lines.
Both developments come as political actors seek to consolidate alliances, mobilise supporters and position themselves ahead of the presidential and National Assembly elections scheduled for January 2027, followed by governorship polls in February.
The next phase of both stories will depend on responses to the oil-wells allegations and the development of campaign structures ahead of the elections.
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