LAGOS/Nigeria: A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, has challenged Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Nyesom Wike’s claim to continued control of the political structure in Rivers State, saying the 2027 elections will ultimately determine the extent of his influence.
Eze, a former National Publicity Secretary of the defunct New People’s Democratic Party (nPDP), was reacting to Wike’s recent declaration that he remained in charge of the political machinery in Rivers despite no longer occupying the governorship.
Wike, who spoke with journalists in Port Harcourt on Wednesday, described himself as the “General Commander of the Political Infantry” and said holding the office of governor was not a prerequisite for controlling a state’s political structure.
But Eze dismissed the claim as an unrealistic assessment of the current political situation in the state, arguing that political influence could not be permanently secured by personal declarations.
He said the outcome of the next general election would provide a more credible measure of political support than public claims about the strength of any political structure.
“Wike should wait for 2027. That is when the reality will become clear,” Eze said, urging Rivers voters to determine through their ballots who commands genuine support in the state.
The ADC chieftain also criticised Wike’s continued attacks on former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi, saying the frequency of the minister’s references to the two opposition figures suggested that they remained significant factors in the political contest ahead of 2027.
Eze argued that if Atiku and Amaechi had no meaningful political influence, as Wike has suggested, there would be little reason for the minister to devote so much attention to them.
He said Amaechi’s contribution to the political history of Rivers could not be erased by continued criticism, adding that disagreements between former political allies should not be allowed to distort the record of events.
Eze also faulted Wike’s assessment of the recent Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) conference in Port Harcourt, after the minister reportedly described the event as a failure and questioned the politics surrounding the gathering.
According to Eze, the NBA conference provided an important platform for discussions on the legal profession, democracy, justice and national development, and its value should not be determined by whether a particular political figure attended.
He said the NBA was an independent professional association with the right to determine the participants and themes of its conferences.
“If Wike was not invited, that should make him reflect rather than attack the NBA,” Eze said.
The ADC chieftain urged the FCT minister to concentrate on his responsibilities in Abuja instead of treating political structures as the permanent property of individuals.
He maintained that political organisations and electoral support ultimately belonged to the people and could change as voters reassessed their choices.
Eze further criticised what he described as Wike’s attempt to use his political influence to shape the outcome of the 2027 elections, saying the electorate should be allowed to make its choice without intimidation or manipulation.
He also returned to the controversy surrounding the 2025 political crisis in Rivers State and the subsequent declaration of a state of emergency, arguing that Wike’s role in the events had affected how some residents viewed his political claims.
Eze said the political developments of the past two years had altered the state’s political landscape and made it difficult for any individual to assume that previous alliances and structures remained unchanged.
He called on Rivers residents to focus on issues affecting governance, development and democratic accountability as political activities ahead of 2027 intensify.
According to him, the next election should be allowed to provide a genuine test of the competing claims to political influence in Rivers State.
“Political structures belong to the people, not to individuals,” he said, adding that voters would ultimately determine which political camp had earned their confidence.
Eze said Nigerians were becoming more conscious of their role in determining political leadership and urged citizens to resist any attempt to undermine their constitutional right to choose their representatives.
He maintained that the coming electoral contest would offer an opportunity for Rivers voters to settle, through the ballot, competing claims about who controls the state’s political future.
The statement comes as political alignments continue to take shape ahead of the 2027 general elections, with Wike publicly positioning himself as a key political force in Rivers and pledging to work towards delivering the state and the Federal Capital Territory to President Bola Tinubu.
