The Rivers State chapter of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has warned that the 2027 general elections will not be won through political boasts, intimidation or advance declarations, insisting that voters and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) will determine the outcome.
The state chairman of the ADC, Chukwudi Dimkpa, made the statement on Monday in Port Harcourt while responding to comments attributed to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, that the party’s vice-presidential candidate, Rotimi Amaechi, would be defeated by noon on election day.
The development has intensified political exchanges in Rivers State ahead of the 2027 elections, with opposition parties challenging what they described as claims of political dominance by influential figures.
Dimkpa stated that election victories are achieved through the support of citizens rather than public declarations by political leaders.
“Elections are not won by boasts, intimidation or political strongmen announcing results in advance. Rivers people will vote, the votes will be counted, and INEC, not Wike, will declare the winner,” he said.
The ADC chairman was reacting to remarks reportedly made by Wike during a civic reception organised in his honour by the Ikwerre Local Government Area at Omagwa, where the FCT minister was quoted as saying Amaechi would be defeated by midday on election day.
Dimkpa also criticised the timing of the event, alleging that it occurred on the same day Amaechi was burying his mother, Dame Ezinne Amaechi, at Ubima, his hometown.
He argued that the occasion should not have been used for political attacks against a rival who was mourning.
“On a day when Rotimi Amaechi was burying his mother and people from across Nigeria were travelling to Ubima, his hometown, to commiserate with the family, Wike and the Chairman of Ikwerre Local Government Area chose that same route and occasion for a political reception,” Dimkpa stated.
He described the move as inappropriate, alleging that the gathering created unnecessary tension and turned a civic event into a platform for political criticism.
The ADC chairman said his party deliberately avoided responding immediately because its focus was on ensuring that Amaechi’s late mother received a dignified burial.
“We refused to dignify the provocation with a response because our attention was on giving Mama Dame Ezinne Amaechi a befitting burial,” he said.
Dimkpa maintained that Rivers State belongs to all citizens and no individual or political figure has control over the choices voters will make in 2027.
“Rivers State belongs to all of us. Nobody owns the people, nobody owns their votes, and certainly, nobody can declare an election result by 12 noon,” he added.
He urged Rivers residents not to be intimidated ahead of the election, calling on them to participate actively and elect leaders based on credibility, competence and their ability to improve the lives of citizens.
Wike and Amaechi have remained central figures in Rivers State politics, with their political differences continuing to shape discussions ahead of the 2027 electoral cycle.
