FCT Minister says opposition is “crippled and depleted”, dismisses claims of federal interference in Osun election…..
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has described the 2027 presidential election as President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s easiest electoral contest, arguing that Nigeria’s opposition has been weakened by divisions and a lack of effective organisation.
Wike made the remarks on Tuesday in Abuja while responding to questions from journalists about the recently concluded Osun State governorship election.
The FCT minister defended the conduct of the election, saying the Tinubu administration should be credited for allowing democratic processes to take their course rather than interfering with electoral outcomes.
According to Wike, allegations of manipulation often emerge depending on which side wins an election.
“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.
He maintained that the current administration had allowed electoral processes to operate without undue interference and should therefore receive credit for doing so.
The minister also dismissed claims that the Federal Government deployed its influence to favour the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) during the Osun election.
Wike argued that those making such allegations may not understand what the deployment of federal might in an election actually looks like.
He referred to the 2019 Rivers State election, when he said the presence of security personnel and other federal interventions was much more pronounced.
“They don’t know what federal might is. I think they should come and ask people like us who faced federal might in 2019,” Wike said.
“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?”
He said the circumstances surrounding the Osun election should therefore not be compared with previous elections in which he believes federal institutions were used more aggressively.
Turning to the 2027 presidential race, Wike contrasted the political atmosphere facing Tinubu with the uncertainty surrounding the 2023 election.
He said the 2023 contest was difficult for Tinubu, with uncertainty over the intentions of the then Federal Government and concerns among governors about how the election would unfold.
According to Wike, the political landscape has changed considerably.
“2023 was a tough election for him,” he said.
“Nobody knew what the government at the time was trying to do, and even governors were afraid.”
The minister argued that removing an incumbent government requires a well-organised and formidable opposition capable of spending years building a political structure.
“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 and politicians preparing for the 2027 election, particularly those associated with the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and former presidential candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
He pointed to divisions within the opposition and what he described as disappointing performances in recent governorship elections as evidence that the parties are not sufficiently prepared for a national contest.
The minister also recalled the role played by the G5 governors during the 2023 election, arguing that alliances of that nature could be crucial in determining the outcome of presidential elections.
However, he warned against using governorship elections as a direct measure of a party’s strength at the national level.
“Governorship elections rely on local variables, but a national election is a completely different ballgame,” Wike said.
He was particularly emphatic about Tinubu’s chances in 2027.
“If it is this 2027 election against Bola Ahmed Tinubu, forget it. It’s over,” he declared.
Wike: Judge government by actions, not emotions
The FCT minister also addressed criticism of the government over the state of the economy, urging Nigerians to assess leadership based on concrete measures taken to tackle problems rather than emotional reactions.
He argued that identifying a problem is only the beginning, adding that leaders should ultimately be judged by the steps they take to resolve it.
“Leadership is defined by the steps you take to solve problems,” Wike said.
“When someone identifies a problem and takes concrete action to fix it, that is the effort people should appreciate.”
His comments come as political parties and potential presidential contenders begin positioning themselves ahead of the 2027 general election, with the strength and unity of the opposition emerging as a major theme in the early political battle.
