Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has dismissed the presidential ambitions of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi, declaring that Rivers State will support President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 general election.

Wike made the declaration on Tuesday in Port Harcourt during a rally organised by youths of the Rivers Rainbow Coalition, where he criticised the political records of the two opposition figures and urged supporters to mobilise for Tinubu’s re-election.

The minister described Atiku, who is associated with the African Democratic Congress (ADC), as a politician who could not be trusted to keep his word, while dismissing Obi’s popularity as largely driven by social media.

Wike said his past political relationship with Atiku had given him firsthand knowledge of the former vice-president’s approach to politics.

“I have been in the same party with Atiku Abubakar. He is not a man who keeps to his words. What he says in the night is not what he says in the morning,” he said.

He also accused Atiku of repeatedly pursuing the presidency for personal reasons, describing him as a political gambler.

The minister subsequently asked the crowd whether they would support Atiku in the 2027 election, drawing a resounding “No!” from the audience.

Turning to Obi, Wike mocked the former Labour Party presidential candidate’s perceived reliance on social media popularity, arguing that online support did not necessarily translate into the ability to govern.

“You can make him the president of social media so that he can be going to IDP camps to be celebrating their birthdays and buying corn on the road,” he said.

Wike, however, maintained that his support for Tinubu was based on what he described as the benefits Rivers State had received from the Federal Government since the president assumed office.

He claimed that no previous administration in the current democratic era had given Rivers State as much federal representation and development as the Tinubu government.

According to him, at least 49 Rivers indigenes currently occupy prominent positions in the Federal Government, a development he described as unprecedented.

The minister also cited the Bonny-Bodo road and bridge project as evidence of the Federal Government’s intervention in the state, saying it had improved access to communities that were previously difficult to reach by road.

“We’re not looking for those who are fine or finer. We’re looking for those who will do something that will positively impact on Nigerians and also impact on Rivers people,” Wike said.

He urged members of the coalition to intensify grassroots mobilisation by engaging residents, community leaders and other stakeholders in support of Tinubu and candidates endorsed by the group.

“Whether you are Atiku, whether you are Obi, Rivers State is for Tinubu!” he declared amid cheers from the crowd.

Wike also said the Rivers Rainbow Coalition was positioning itself as a lasting political platform, announcing that the group would formally unveil its candidates on October 27.

Chinda promises youth development

The APC governorship candidate in Rivers State, Kingsley Chinda, also addressed the rally, pledging to prioritise youth participation, vocational training and community development if elected.

Chinda said the coalition’s support for Tinubu was intended to demonstrate the commitment of Rivers youths to the president’s re-election bid.

“The message we are sending out today is that the youths of Rivers State are unapologetically, unconditionally standing firm with Tinubu for President,” he said.

He identified youth empowerment and reforms in the education sector as key areas requiring attention, arguing that greater investment in technical and vocational education would help young people acquire practical skills and improve their employment prospects.

According to Chinda, Rivers State should develop a skilled workforce capable of meeting local demand for technical services and attracting customers from other parts of the country.

He lamented that people seeking certain services, including tiling, carpentry and electrical work, often looked towards Cotonou for skilled workers.

“Today, if we are talking about tiling, carpentry, and technical craftsmanship, people start looking towards Cotonou. We believe that very soon, if anyone wants the best tilers or the best electricians in Nigeria, they will come to Rivers State.

“There will be no compromise. We can only build the state if we build the youths,” he said.

Chinda added that chairmen of the 23 local government areas in Rivers State would be expected to prioritise youth development and establish vocational centres to equip young people with relevant skills.

Youth leaders pledge support for Tinubu

Several youth leaders and representatives of student organisations at the rally pledged to mobilise support for Tinubu and other candidates endorsed by the Rivers Rainbow Coalition.

The coordinator of the Rivers State Rainbow Coalition Youth and South-South coordinator of City Boys, Chima Aguma, assured Wike that the group would take its campaign to communities across the state.

Aguma described the gathering as a show of solidarity with the FCT minister, saying many of those present had supported him during previous political struggles.

“These are people who stood by you throughout the struggle. You can look at their faces, they are people you know and recognise. This is your family; this is your base,” he said.

He pledged that the group would work towards the victory of Tinubu and other candidates supported by the coalition in the 2027 elections.

Similarly, the Rivers State chairman of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), Bani Nwisabari, presented a recognition plaque to Wike in acknowledgement of what he described as the minister’s contributions to political inclusion and unity.

Nwisabari recalled that Wike had appointed him to the state’s Senior Secondary School Board, describing himself as a beneficiary of the minister’s empowerment initiatives.

“You are an empowerment strategist. I am a direct beneficiary of your magnanimity and come 2027, the message is very clear and we will do the needful,” he said.

The president of the National Union of Rivers State Students (NURSS), Justice Uranta, also pledged to mobilise students and Rivers indigenes in support of Tinubu and Chinda.

Uranta said the mobilisation would cover all 23 local government areas, tertiary institutions across the state and Rivers indigenes living outside Nigeria.

The rally forms part of the coalition’s efforts to consolidate political support ahead of the 2027 general election, with its leaders promising to mobilise youths and other grassroots groups across Rivers State.