2027 polls: Wike urges INEC to sanction Amaechi over inciting, inflammatory remarks

..Says FCT NLC strike political, imposes no-work-no-pay

The Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has called on Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) to sanction Mr. Rotimi Amaechi over his recent political utterances, which he described as “irresponsible and inciting.”

Amaechi, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) vice-presidential candidate, had, on Thursday in Benin City, during the party’s town hall, said only mad people and thieves would vote for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election.

Reacting,‌‍‍‌‍⁠⁠‍‌‍‌‌‌ Wike told newsmen after a meeting with FCT area council chairmen and head of security agencies in Abuja on Friday that such ‘irresponsible behaviour’ should not be allowed to go unchallenged.

He expressed disappointment over regulatory inaction regarding what he called the inflammatory statements made by the former Minister of Transportation.

“Up till now, I have not heard that INEC has been able to call the attention of Amaechi. All of us watched on television yesterday (Thursday) where he said it’s only thieves that can vote for President Tinubu, and that only mad people will go and vote for Tinubu, and that if Edo people vote for him, it means the people are mad,” he said.

Wike condemned the comments, describing them as “unacceptable from a high-ranking political figure aspiring to national leadership.”

He said, “This is supposedly a vice-presidential candidate of a political party seeking to take over power and preside over the affairs of this country.

“Not just an ordinary politician — a vice-presidential candidate – telling voters and telling Nigerians that only thieves and mad people will vote for President Tinubu.

“If he continues along this line, it will be difficult for him to campaign in Rivers. We will make it difficult for him. You cannot sit down, call voters madmen and thieves, and expect to walk away free.”

The minister expressed deep concerns over the rising trend of personal insults and public incitement in campaign rhetoric, calling on INEC to enforce electoral regulations strictly and hold political candidates accountable for non-issue-based campaigns.

He said, “You see, one problem we have in this country is that agencies or commissions should be able to take their functions seriously.

“Many Nigerians have called on INEC to sanction political parties, candidates or some politicians who, in their campaigns, incite the public or raise matters that are not issue-based.

“We have been told to go on campaigns based on issues – what are you going to do for the people – not on attacking personalities or insulting individuals.”

Wike also scolded media organisations for failing to challenge political candidates when they resort to derogatory attacks rather than discussing policy issues.

The minister also spoke on the indefinite strike declared by the FCT chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), describing it as “political and without basis,” saying the FCT Administration had no dispute with teachers.

“This so-called strike declaration is political and we will not accept it. There’s no basis for anybody to call for a strike. All the things they are talking about have been agreed and are being implemented,” he said.

He said the Trade Union Congress (TUC) and the Academic Staff Union of Secondary School (ASUSS), the body of senior primary school teachers, had disowned the strike.

Wike, therefore, directed area councils to call their teachers and civil servants back to work, warning that “no work, no pay” would be implemented.

He alleged that the chairman of the NLC in the FCT was a former area council aspirant of the ADC and was trying to create crisis in the FCT for political reasons.