Kenneth Okonkwo, the spokesperson to African Democratic Congress, ADC, presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has dismissed claims by Minister of the Federal Capital Territory,FCT, Nyesom Wike, that former Rivers State governor, Rotimi Amaechi, has lost his political relevance.
Okonkwo said Wike’s claim that he had repeatedly defeated Amaechi was not supported by facts, arguing that Amaechi did not contest the Rivers State governorship election against Wike in 2015.
Speaking while defending Amaechi’s relevance to the Atiku-Amaechi ticket ahead of the 2027 presidential election on Symfoni TV, Okonkwo described Wike as a “local champion” for limiting his political assessment of Amaechi to Rivers State.
“When Wike is talking about elections, can’t you see he restricts himself to Rivers State? Local champion,” Okonkwo said.
He questioned how Wike could claim to have defeated Amaechi when the former governor did not contest against him in the 2015 Rivers State governorship election or seek any elective political office in the state in 2019.
“When he says I defeated him, please let me ask Chibuike Amaechi, did he contest for Rivers State governorship election in 2015? Did he contest for any political office in Rivers State in 2019? How did you defeat him?
“So unfortunately what he said was not the reflection of the facts. Chibuike has been very successful all through and as vice presidential candidate he is going to deliver again for his boss, Atiku abubakar, for ADC and for the Nigerian people,” Okonkwo added.
