The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State has claimed that former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, has lost over 70% of his political support in the state. This statement was made by Eric Nwibani, Secretary of the State APC Caretaker Committee, during a news briefing in Port Harcourt on Tuesday.

Nwibani highlighted that despite Amaechi’s influential roles, including serving as a two-time Director General of President Muhammadu Buhari’s presidential campaigns and being part of Buhari’s inner circle, he has failed to maintain his support base and has lost three election cycles from 2015 to 2023.

Nwibani responded to Amaechi’s earlier remarks, which suggested that those who defected to work with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, did so due to hunger. He urged Amaechi to reflect on why many of his followers have left his camp instead of making accusations.

“Amaechi has lost over 70% of his followership. I’m done working with Amaechi. In 2019, during President Buhari’s campaign rally at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium, 16 people died due to a stampede. Amaechi visited three families in Obio/Akpo and promised support, but he never followed through. That is the kind of leader he is,” Nwibani stated.

He further criticized Amaechi for harboring bitterness and questioned his ability to win future elections. “You were a super minister and couldn’t win the last election. How do you plan to win now that you are out of government?”

Nwibani defended those who have chosen to work with Wike, stating, “Amaechi cannot claim that those working with Wike are hungry. Chief Victor Giadom, Ojukaye Flag Amachree, Sampson Ngerigbari, and others are not hungry people. Wike, despite being a PDP member, is a Rivers son and is performing well as the FCT minister under President Tinubu’s government. We need to support him.”

He also pointed out Amaechi’s ineffective leadership, which he believes led to the party’s three consecutive election losses. “Amaechi left PDP for APC in 2014 without facing backlash. So why is he bitter about losing the 2023 election against President Tinubu?”

In a related development, APC Publicity Secretary Chibuike Ikenga commented on a court judgment affirming that 27 pro-Wike lawmakers led by Martin Amaewhule remain members of the PDP. Ikenga stated, “The court’s decision stands. We are evaluating it and will act based on our legal department’s advice. We are currently engaging stakeholders to determine our next steps.”