Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has claimed that Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Peter Obi, no longer enjoys the level of support he had in the South-East. Wike made the assertion during an interview with TVC News’ Journalists’ Hangout on Monday, September 21. The……
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has claimed that Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Peter Obi, no longer enjoys the level of support he had in the South-East.
Wike made the assertion during an interview with TVC News’ Journalists’ Hangout on Monday, September 21.
The FCT Minister, who was discussing the political landscape ahead of the 2027 general elections, said the circumstances that favoured Obi in parts of the country in 2023 had changed.
According to Wike, Obi’s support in the South-East during the 2023 election was significant, but he argued that the situation is no longer the same.
“I can tell you also what happened. How did he win? We in the G5, we said we have a strategy,” Wike said.
He explained that members of the G5 governors believed the Peoples Democratic Party was stronger in the South-South but faced a challenge with the candidacy of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.
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“Our problem will be Atiku. Therefore, instead of Atiku to take it, let you go to the Labour Party. That was crossover,” he said.
Wike said the G5 also made a strategic decision regarding Rivers State because of the potential impact of Obi’s performance in the state.
“It was only Rivers I said no, we have a problem here in Rivers, Obi will not win here because if he wins, he sends a signal somewhere they may not understand it,” he said.
The minister said the political situation had since changed, particularly in the South-East.
“No longer now. What we know now, Obi does not have it. I won’t have it in this, and that’s the truth of the matter,” Wike said.
He added that the 2027 political contest should not be viewed through the same lens as the 2023 election.
“It does not matter how you abuse me. It does not matter how you abuse me. But the truth of the matter is that for this election, leave it for Tinubu. Prepare for 2031, and that’s the truth of the matter,” he said.
Wike also challenged journalists and political observers to assess the strength of the various political groups on a zone-by-zone basis rather than relying on crowd sizes at political rallies.
He said the presence of large crowds at rallies should not, on its own, be interpreted as evidence of electoral support.
“If you are using based on the fact that there are rallies, then you are making a very big mistake,” Wike said.
