The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has described the 2027 presidential election as a relatively easy contest for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, citing what he considers a weakened and fragmented opposition.
Wike made the assertion on Tuesday in Abuja while speaking at a press briefing on the recently concluded Osun State governorship election.
The minister said the outcome of the election demonstrated that the administration had allowed the democratic process to function 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.
“From what I have seen, this government allows processes to run their own way, and they must be given credit for that,” he said.
Wike also dismissed claims that the Federal Government deployed its influence to secure victory for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State.
He challenged those making the allegations to compare the situation with what he described as the deployment of “federal might” during the 2019 elections 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.
“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?” Wike asked.
Comparing the political environment ahead of the 2027 election with the 2023 presidential contest, Wike said the latter was more difficult and uncertain 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.
“But 2027 will be different. 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 said.
Wike criticised opposition parties, particularly the African Democratic Congress (ADC), as well as some former PDP presidential contenders, over what he described as internal divisions and weak electoral performances.
He said the 2023 presidential election demonstrated the importance of strong political alliances, citing the role played by the G5 governors.
According to him, governorship elections are largely influenced by local factors, while presidential elections require a broader national political structure.
“Governorship elections rely on local variables, but a national election is a completely different ball game.
“If it is this 2027 election against Bola Ahmed Tinubu, forget it. It’s over,” he said.
On concerns about the economy, Wike urged Nigerians to assess the administration based on concrete measures taken to address the country’s challenges.
“Leadership is defined by the steps you take to solve problems,” he said.
He added that leaders who identified problems and took practical steps to address them should be judged by those efforts rather than by emotional sentiments.
