A political storm has erupted following the public declaration by Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), of his intent to spearhead President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 re-election campaign. Wike’s statement has drawn sharp criticism from opposition parties, including the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which he still claims membership in.
Speaking candidly during a media chat on Monday in Abuja, Wike described himself as a pivotal force in Tinubu’s political journey, asserting, “I am not a liability, I am an asset. Whether you agree or not… I am an asset to making sure that Tinubu wins his second term.”
Wike, a former governor of Rivers State, doubled down on his loyalty to the PDP, even as he admitted he could not support the party’s 2023 presidential bid due to what he described as a betrayal of the agreement for a southern candidate.
“In 2023, did I not tell you that I wouldn’t support their presidential candidate? Based on equity, justice, and fairness, the presidency should go to the South,” he said.
However, party stakeholders and rival parties are not buying Wike’s defence. PDP’s Deputy National Youth Leader, Timothy Osadolor, dismissed Wike’s influence and indicated that disciplinary measures are imminent.
Meanwhile, the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) Publicity Secretary, Mark Adebayo, branded Wike as Tinubu’s “political hitman,” accusing him of undermining the opposition from within.
Additional criticisms came from the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), whose spokesman, Ladipo Johnson, stressed that the 2027 elections will be determined by public sentiment, not political endorsements.
Veteran PDP leader Chief Bode George reiterated that the PDP would back a candidate from the South and would not support a president from a rival party. “The PDP will not rally round Tinubu, he is not a member of our party,” George affirmed.
As the controversy grows, calls for Wike’s expulsion intensify, with critics arguing that his dual loyalty is unsustainable. Despite this, Wike insists that his support for Tinubu does not negate his PDP membership, highlighting the party’s leadership woes and recent defections as more pressing issues.
