Wike says 70,000 will welcome Tinubu at Port Harcourt rally on Saturday
- FCT Minister Nyesom Wike says at least 70,000 people are expected at President Tinubu's Port Harcourt rally on Saturday.
- Wike spoke after inspecting the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium, which seats 40,000, ahead of the President's visit.
- It would be Tinubu's first trip to Rivers State since he was sworn in as President in May 2023.
President Bola Tinubu will hold a rally in Port Harcourt on Saturday, and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, says organisers expect at least 70,000 people to fill the ground.
Wike gave the figure on Friday after walking round the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium, the venue, to check how ready it is. He said the stadium has seats for 40,000, while the Yakubu Gowon Stadium, where the Rainbow Coalition unveiled its candidates last week, holds about 16,000.
According to a statement from his media aide, Lere Olayinka, Wike said Rivers people are eager to see the President and that security and logistics are in place. Tribune reported that organisers have prepared overflow areas for supporters beyond the seating capacity.
First visit since 2023
Saturday's rally will be President Tinubu's first trip to Rivers State since he took office in May 2023. Wike recalled that the President last came while he was still governor, when Tinubu was President-elect and came to commission projects.
“We are highly elated to receive Mr President,” Wike said, adding that the state had prepared well for the visit.
The rally is part of the run-up to the 2027 general elections. Wike, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party, has been a prominent figure in mobilisation efforts for the President's re-election. He said the event will also give candidates a chance to present their plans to voters.
On Friday, supporters held a roadshow in Port Harcourt ahead of the visit. More than 80 campaign buses marked for the All Progressives Congress and the PDP, with coordinators from the 23 local government areas, moved through major streets before heading to the stadium. The Rainbow Coalition's coordinator in the state, Ambassador Desmond Akawor, led the procession, according to Tribune.
Asked whether the 70,000 target is realistic, Wike said he had no doubt. He pointed to the decorations, the organisation and the tightened security at the venue, and told reporters to come and see the crowd for themselves.
“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.
What happens next
The rally holds on Saturday at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium. With the 2027 campaigns gathering pace, the turnout will be watched closely as a sign of how much support the President can pull in a state run by an opposing party.
