The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has mocked the vice presidential candidate of African Democratic Congress (ADC), Rotimi Amaechi, over the number of people that attended his town hall meeting in Cross River State.

The minister who spoke on Tuesday during an interactive session with journalists said that fewer people attended the meeting where Mr Amaechi claimed that Abubakar Atiku was positioned to win the 2027 election because of the regional distribution of the major presidential contenders.

The minister said Mr Amaechi based his prediction on the geographical origins of the leading contenders.

“I watched Amaechi. He had a town hall meeting in Cross River. I can tell you the numbers were not up to 200 people,” Mr Wike said.

According to him, the former governor told the gathering that the presidential candidate of his party, Mr Atiku, is from the North, while others are from the South, hence his party already won the 2027 presidential election.

Mr Wike questioned the basis of such a conclusion, particularly coming from a politician expected to play a significant role in the opposition’s electoral strategy.

“How can a vice presidential candidate go to a town hall meeting, stand and tell his supporters, ‘Do you know how this election has been won?’” he asked.

“In 2023, Atiku ran, Obi ran, Tinubu ran. Who won?” Mr Wike said.

He added that President Bola Tinubu won the 2023 presidential election ahead of other two candidates who finished second and third respectively.

“I have always told you people, 2027 will be totally different from 2023,” he said.