The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has expressed confidence that hunger and insecurity will not prevent Nigerians from re-electing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election.
Wike made the remarks on Wednesday during a media parley with selected journalists in Abuja, where he argued that political dependence plays a significant role in shaping voting decisions in Nigeria.
The former Rivers State governor acknowledged that hunger and insecurity would remain major issues in any Nigerian election but urged critics to take a practical approach when assessing how Nigerians make political choices.
“There is no election in Nigeria where the issue of hunger and insecurity won’t come up,” Wike said.
He recalled that similar concerns were raised during elections under former President Muhammadu Buhari, stressing that voters’ decisions are often influenced by their relationships with political leaders.
According to Wike, political dependence exists at the family, community, local government and ward levels, with many Nigerians relying on political leaders for food and other forms of assistance.
He argued that this reality makes the Nigerian electorate different from voters in countries where individuals are more economically independent and less reliant on political figures.
Wike’s comments come amid growing debate over the impact of economic hardship and insecurity on the 2027 presidential election and the prospects of the Tinubu administration.
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