Abuja:Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Mr. Nyesom Wike, has urged the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) to take action against Mr. Rotimi Amaechi for his recent controversial statements, which Wike described as ‘irresponsible and inciting’.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Amaechi, the vice-presidential candidate for the African Democratic Congress, made remarks at a town hall meeting in Benin, stating that only ‘mad people and thieves’ would vote for President Bola Tinubu in the upcoming 2027 presidential election.
Wike reacted to these comments following a meeting with FCT area council chairmen and security agency heads in Abuja. He criticized the lack of response from regulatory bodies to what he termed as inflammatory statements made by the former Minister of Transportation.
He emphasized the seriousness of such remarks coming from a high-ranking political figure and expressed concerns about the trend of personal insults and public incitement in political campaigns. Wike called for INEC to enforce electoral regulations and hold candidates accountable for campaigns that do not focus on issues.
Furthermore, Wike criticized media organizations for not challenging political candidates who engage in derogatory attacks instead of addressing policy issues. He stressed the importance of issue-based campaigns and the need for electoral bodies to perform their duties diligently.