Coalition rallies behind Tinubu
Wike welcomed Tinubu and his delegation to Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium as the president's campaign coordinator in Rivers State. The rally was organized by the Rainbow Coalition, a Wike-led alliance of six parties supporting Tinubu's re-election and All Progressives Congress (APC) candidates in the state, according to Premium Times and ThisDay, carried by allAfrica.
Fubara publicly acknowledged Wike as the coalition's leader and promised to work under him. "Under the guidance and leadership of FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, we will deliver not less than three million votes for you," Premium Times quoted the governor as saying.
Wike presented the turnout as evidence of Rivers residents' support, saying no one had been mobilized from another state. "Your Excellency, this is Rivers State's rally. We did not mobilise anybody from any other state. You can see with your eyes that the people of Rivers State have already concluded and agreed that on January 16, they will vote for you," he said.
He said the venue in Igwuruta, Ikwerre Local Government Area, seats more than 40,000 people, contrasting it with Yakubu Gowon Stadium in Elekahia, Port Harcourt, where Tinubu campaigned in 2022 and 2023.
To explain his support, Wike pointed to the completed Bonny-Bodo Road, the establishment of the Federal University of Environment in Ogoniland and at least 47 political appointments he said Tinubu had given to people from Rivers. He described the president as a reliable ally of the state. "Since the inception of democracy in 1999, Rivers people have never had it this way," he said.
Tinubu presents manifesto and praises reconciliation
Tinubu presented his 2027 election manifesto at the rally and praised the reconciliation between Fubara and Wike, Premium Times reported. He also accused former Vice President Atiku Abubakar of using public money to build a private university while in office.
Vice President Kashim Shettima appealed to political leaders in Rivers and the South-South to support Tinubu for another term. He said Nigeria's foreign reserves had increased from about $3.9 billion to $60 billion over roughly three years.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio also called for support for Tinubu, predicting a decisive APC victory in Rivers in 2027. Other attendees included First Lady Oluremi Tinubu, House of Representatives Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, APC National Chairman Nentawe Yilwatda and Presidential Campaign Council Director-General Abdulaziz Yari, according to Premium Times.
Wike demands answers from Amaechi
Wike also used his speech to press Rotimi Amaechi, a former Rivers governor and transportation minister, to return to the state and explain spending and projects from his administration.
Among the transactions Wike questioned was a mosquito fumigation program. He alleged that it cost $10 million, which he valued at N14 billion, yet had not resolved the mosquito problem. "You fumigated Rivers State so that there would be no mosquitoes. Have mosquitoes gone? Are mosquitoes not biting you?" he asked.
Wike alleged that another transaction, the December 2014 sale of the Omoku gas turbine, brought in $308 million but that only $308,000 remained when he became governor in May 2015.
He also demanded an account of $39 million he said had been paid toward the Justice Karibi-Whyte Specialist Hospital. The planned 1,000-bed facility was to replace an existing teaching hospital that had been demolished, but Wike alleged that not even a foundation had been laid. He put the value of the $39 million at no less than N53 billion at the time of the rally. "Come and show us where the foundation is," he said.
According to Wike, a judicial inquiry established by his administration indicted Amaechi over the transactions. Wike said Amaechi contested the findings but lost at the Rivers State High Court, the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court.
Turning to Amaechi's electoral record, Wike recalled his service as director-general of former President Muhammadu Buhari's presidential campaigns. He alleged that the APC received less than 15 percent of the votes cast in Rivers in each of the 2015 and 2019 presidential elections.
