Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has declared that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will face an easier battle in the 2027 presidential election, arguing that Nigeria’s opposition parties are currently “crippled and depleted.”
Wike made the statement on Tuesday in Abuja while responding to questions on the recently concluded Osun State governorship election during a press briefing.
According to him, the current administration deserves credit for allowing democratic processes to operate without undue interference.
“When they lose, they claim the government manipulated the process; when they win, they show off their might. It does not work that way,” he said.
Wike added that the government should be commended for allowing electoral processes to run their course.
According to him, “From what I have seen, this government allows processes to run their own way, and they must be given credit for that.”
The minister also dismissed claims that the Federal Government deployed its influence, or “federal might”, to favour the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the Osun election.
He challenged those making the allegation to compare the situation with what he described as the experience of the 2019 election in Rivers State.
“They don’t know what federal might is. I think they should come and ask people like us who faced federal might in 2019,” he said
Wike recalled that soldiers were allegedly deployed across Rivers State during the 2019 election, asking whether a similar situation occurred in Osun State.
“In Rivers State, in 2019, we saw what is called federal might. We saw soldiers taking over everywhere. Did anything like that happen in Osun State?”
Speaking about the 2027 presidential contest, Wike contrasted the coming election with the 2023 general election, which he described as a difficult and uncertain contest for Tinubu.
“2023 was a tough election for him. Nobody knew what the government at the time was trying to do, and even governors were afraid,” he said.
“To remove a government, you need a strong, vibrant opposition that has spent over four years planning, not one that is constantly looking for a party to join,” he added.
Wike criticised opposition parties, including the African Democratic Congress (ADC), as well as some former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential contenders, citing internal divisions and what he described as weak performances in recent governorship elections.
He also pointed to the role played by the G-5 Governors in the 2023 election, arguing that strong political alliances are essential for success at the national level.
According to him, governorship elections are heavily influenced by local dynamics, while presidential elections operate on a much broader scale.
“Governorship elections rely on local variables, but a national election is a completely different ballgame,” he said.
Wike was particularly emphatic about Tinubu’s prospects in 2027, stating: “If it is this 2027 election against Bola Ahmed Tinubu, forget it. It’s over.”
Addressing concerns over Nigeria’s economic challenges, Wike urged Nigerians to assess leaders based on the concrete steps they take to address problems rather than relying solely on emotions.
He added that leaders should be judged by their efforts to identify challenges and implement measures aimed at solving them.
“When someone identifies a problem and takes concrete action to fix it, that is the effort people should appreciate,” he said.
Wike’s comments come as political parties and potential candidates begin positioning themselves ahead of the 2027 general election.