Presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has fired back at Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, over projections regarding the 2027 general elections in Rivers State.
Wike's Earlier Claims
Wike had asserted that Atiku and the ADC would struggle to secure even 10 percent of votes in Rivers, and that his political alliance would dominate the governorship race. The remarks were made at a weekend event in Rivers State involving supporters of the Rainbow Coalition.
Atiku's Response
Reacting through a statement on Monday by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku said electoral outcomes cannot be predetermined by any individual. He insisted that Rivers voters are politically aware and capable of making independent choices.
"Rivers votes are not your property. The people of Rivers State are not political slaves. They are intelligent, independent-minded Nigerians who will make their choices based on the realities confronting them and the future they desire for their children," the statement read.
Atiku further maintained that no political actor can dictate electoral outcomes in a democratic setting. "No individual, regardless of influence or access to federal power, can dictate how an entire state will vote," he added.
ADC Source on Running Mate
Earlier reports indicated that Atiku has left the decision on his running mate for the 2027 presidential election to the ADC's leadership and statutory organs, rather than making a unilateral choice.
