Rotimi Amaechi, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) vice-presidential candidate, sharply rebuked Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike on Tuesday, declaring he would not engage with his “subordinate” after the minister dismissed his political relevance in Rivers State and alleged his selection as running mate was financially motivated.
The confrontation unfolded across two separate media appearances. Speaking at a media parley with selected journalists in Abuja, Wike asserted that Amaechi holds no political value in their home state. He further claimed that the ADC presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, chose Amaechi as his running mate purely because of money.
Hours later, appearing on Channels Television’s flagship programme “Politics Today,” Amaechi responded with characteristic bluntness. “I don’t respond to my subordinate,” he said. “Wike never hired me. By the time I finish mourning and go into campaign, anybody that insults me, I will insult him back.”
Amaechi’s reference to a period of mourning alluded to a recent personal loss, though he did not elaborate publicly. The “subordinate” designation recalls their shared history in Rivers State governance, where Amaechi served two terms as governor with Wike acting as his chief of staff before Wike succeeded him in 2015. Their relationship has since deteriorated into one of Nigeria’s most visible political rivalries.
Wike, a two-term former governor of Rivers State, currently serves in President Bola Tinubu’s cabinet. Amaechi, also a former governor and ex-Minister of Transportation, recently accepted the ADC vice-presidential slot ahead of the next general election cycle.
The exchange underscores the fractious dynamics shaping opposition politics in the Niger Delta. As both men retain significant influence over the region’s political machinery, their public feud is likely to remain a defining feature of the electoral landscape in the months ahead.
