The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has predicted that at least 70,000 people will attend President Bola Tinubu’s rally in Rivers State on Saturday.
Wike expressed confidence that residents would turn out in large numbers to welcome the President, saying arrangements had been completed to ensure a successful event.
The former Rivers State governor spoke on Friday during an inspection of preparations at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium in Port Harcourt, the venue of the rally.
According to a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka, Wike said the visit was particularly significant as it would be Tinubu’s first trip to the state since becoming President in May 2023.
He recalled that Tinubu last visited Rivers when he was President-elect and Wike was governor, during which the former inaugurated projects executed by the 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 minister commended the level of preparation at the stadium, particularly the decorations, organisation and security arrangements, expressing confidence that Rivers State would give the President a befitting reception.
“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.
Speaking on the expected attendance, Wike compared the 40,000 sitting capacity of the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium with the 16,000 capacity of Yakubu Gowon Stadium, where candidates of the Rainbow Coalition were unveiled the previous week.
He maintained that the larger venue would accommodate the massive crowd expected to attend Saturday’s event.
“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 added that the rally would also give political candidates an opportunity to present their programmes to voters ahead of the 2027 general election.
Although he said Rivers residents had already decided to support Tinubu, he noted that political campaigns remained an important avenue for candidates to sell their programmes to the electorate.
“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 FCT minister also dismissed concerns about whether the projected turnout would be achieved, insisting that the level of mobilisation and preparations gave him confidence.
He said security had been tightened, while all relevant stakeholders had been working together to ensure a successful rally.
“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, over 80 campaign buses allocated to the All Progressives Congress and the Peoples Democratic Party across Rivers State’s 23 local government areas participated in a roadshow through major streets in Port Harcourt before heading to the stadium.
The exercise, which also involved campaign coordinators, was organised to sensitise residents and mobilise support ahead of Tinubu’s visit.
Wike encouraged residents and observers to attend the rally to witness the anticipated 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 is part of his political engagements ahead of the 2027 general election.
Wike, despite being a member of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, has remained a prominent figure in efforts to mobilise support for the President’s re-election.
