“He Became An Emergency Corn Chewer”: Wike Mocks Amaechi’s Roadside Stunts During FCT Elections
ABUJA — The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has launched a blistering verbal attack against political rivals who resorted to populist street theatrics during the recently concluded FCT Area Council elections. In a classic, no-holds-barred media chat, Wike singled out a former governor and minister, branding him an “emergency corn chewer” desperate for votes.
While Wike did not explicitly name his target, political analysts and Nigerians instantly recognized the unmistakable reference to his long-time political rival and former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi. Amaechi notably served an eight-year tenure as a State Assembly Speaker, an eight-year tenure as Governor of Rivers State, and a near eight-year tenure as a Federal Minister.
As the dust settles on the FCT Area Council elections, Wike maintains that his administration’s aggressive urban renewal projects and infrastructural reforms will remain his ultimate campaign tools, rendering “emergency corn chewing” utterly useless in modern Nigerian politics.
The “Emergency Corn Chewer” Jab
Reviewing the political dynamics of the late February 2026 FCT polls, Wike dismissed the sudden “street credibility” adopted by certain opposition figures. He accused them of gross deceit, noting that they completely ignored the masses while holding massive power, only to rush to the roadside to buy roasted corn when they needed to sway the electorate.
“Somebody was Governor, Speaker, and Minister for eight years, he never came on the road to chew corn,” Wike stated, mocking the apparent hypocrisy of the campaign tactics. “He became an emergency corn chewer because of the FCT election.”
Performance Over Theatrics
The FCT Minister used the press briefing to underscore a broader message to Nigerian politicians: the era of manipulating voters with cheap, camera-ready stunts is over.
The Stunt: Wike noted that eating corn by the roadside, dancing at public squares, or suddenly patronizing local hawkers days before an election is a tired gimmick that no longer works on the Nigerian electorate.
The Reality: According to Wike, the FCT elections exposed these hypocrites. Voters in the capital city prioritized tangible infrastructural development, security improvements, and actual governance records over superficial displays of humility.
“Winning of elections is not by dancing or buying corn on the road,” Wike declared, validating the results of the local polls which largely favored candidates aligned with his administration’s developmental agenda.
A Rivalry Reignited
The verbal missile marks the latest chapter in the bitter, long-running feud between Nyesom Wike and Rotimi Amaechi.
The History: Wike previously served as Amaechi’s Chief of Staff during the latter’s first term as Rivers State Governor before their spectacular political fallout.
The Context: Amaechi’s recent visibility and subtle politicking in the FCT ahead of the Area Council elections clearly caught Wike’s attention, prompting the minister to publicly ridicule his former boss’s campaign tactics to ensure they gained no traction.
As the dust settles on the FCT Area Council elections, Wike maintains that his administration’s aggressive urban renewal projects and infrastructural reforms will remain his ultimate campaign tools, rendering “emergency corn chewing” utterly useless in modern Nigerian politics.