Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has described the 2027 presidential election as an easy contest for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, arguing that the opposition remains too divided and weakened to mount a serious challenge.
Wike made the remarks on Tuesday in Abuja while reacting to the outcome of the recently concluded Osun State governorship election, which was won by the opposition.
The FCT minister commended the Tinubu administration for allowing the electoral process to operate without interference, contrasting the situation with the uncertainty that surrounded the 2023 general election.
According to Wike, opposition parties often accuse the Federal Government of manipulating elections when they lose but celebrate their strength when they emerge victorious.
“2023 was a tough election for him. Nobody knew what the government at the time was trying to do, and even governors were afraid,” Wike said.
He added that the current administration had demonstrated a willingness to allow democratic processes to take their course.
“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 argued that defeating an incumbent government requires a strong and well-organised opposition that has spent years building its structure, rather than one still struggling to determine its political direction.
“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.
He also criticised the leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), citing internal divisions and poor performances in recent governorship elections.
Wike said the political dynamics that characterised the 2023 election, including the coordinated position of the G5 governors, would not be repeated on a national scale in 2027.
“Governorship elections rely on local variables, but a national election is a completely different ballgame. If it is this 2027 election against Bola Ahmed Tinubu, forget it. It is over,” he said.
On concerns over economic hardship and public dissatisfaction, Wike urged Nigerians to assess governments based on the concrete steps taken to address challenges rather than sentiments.
“Leadership is defined by the steps you take to solve problems. When someone identifies a problem and takes concrete action to fix it, that is the effort people should appreciate,” he said.
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