Wike projects 70,000 turnout for Tinubu’s Rivers rally

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has projected a turnout of at least 70,000 people at the presidential rally of President Bola Tinubu in Rivers State on Saturday.

Wike said the people of Rivers were enthusiastic about receiving the President, adding that preparations, including security and logistics, had been concluded to ensure a successful event.

The minister spoke on Friday during an inspection of facilities and preparations at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium, Port Harcourt, venue of the rally, according to a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka.

The statement said Wike described Tinubu’s visit as significant, noting that it would be his first visit to the state since assuming office as President in May 2023.

According to Wike, the President last visited Rivers when he was President-elect, and he was governor of the state.

Tinubu had visited to inaugurate projects executed by the then Rivers State Government.

Wike said, “We are highly elated to receive Mr President. Rivers people are very enthusiastic to receive him tomorrow. That is why we have come here to see how prepared we are.

The last time the President visited here was when I was in office as governor, when he was President-elect. He came and commissioned projects.

This appears to be the second coming and the first since he was sworn in as President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces. So, we will say that we are very highly elated to receive him”.

The former Rivers State governor expressed satisfaction with the level of preparations at the stadium, particularly the decorations, organisation and security arrangements.

He challenged observers to assess the facilities, expressing confidence that the state would provide a befitting reception for the President.

“You can attest to the fact that, I don’t know how many states you have gone to, but in terms of organisation, decorations and all that, you will give us a pass mark. It is a lovely place, and we believe that the weather is the best to receive the President tomorrow,” he said.

On the expected crowd, Wike said the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium had a sitting capacity of 40,000, compared with the 16,000-capacity Yakubu Gowon Stadium, where candidates of the Rainbow Coalition were unveiled the previous week.

He nevertheless projected that at least 70,000 men and women would attend the rally to welcome Tinubu and listen to his campaign message.

Last week, precisely, when the Rainbow Coalition candidates were received by His Excellency, the governor of the state, at the Yakubu Gowon Stadium, the sitting capacity of that stadium is 16,000.

“But here, the sitting capacity is 40,000. What we are expecting, in fact, there are 70,000 Rivers men and women who will come to receive the President and hear him,” he said.

Wike said the rally would also provide an opportunity for political candidates to present their programmes to the electorate ahead of the 2027 general election.

He maintained that Rivers residents had already made up their minds to support Tinubu but acknowledged the importance of political campaigns in allowing candidates to engage voters.

“We have already made up our minds what to do. We are all for the President. But again, it is one of those rituals that every political season, candidates will come and sell themselves to the people,” he said.

The minister dismissed doubts about achieving the projected attendance, expressing confidence that the mobilisation efforts and preparations would deliver the expected turnout.

He added that security arrangements had been strengthened and all relevant stakeholders were working towards a successful event.

“It is not about how certain. I have told you that Rivers men and women are enthusiastic to receive this President. And I can tell you, I am very confident, very confident, believing by the grace of God, we will have clement weather.

“All hands have been on deck. Security is tight. Everything looks up and has been put together. We will get that number, if not more,” he said.

Earlier on Friday, more than 80 campaign buses designated for the All Progressives Congress and Peoples Democratic Party across the 23 local government areas of Rivers State, alongside campaign coordinators, were driven through major streets in Port Harcourt before proceeding to the stadium.

The roadshow was organised to create awareness and mobilise support ahead of the President’s visit.

Wike urged residents and observers to attend the rally and witness the turnout.

“I hope you will be here to witness yourself the crowd that will be here to receive Mr President,” he added.

Tinubu’s visit forms part of his political engagements ahead of the 2027 general election. Wike, although a member of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, has been a prominent figure in mobilisation efforts for President Tinubu’s re-election.