The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) dismissed the strength of the opposition on Tuesday, arguing that the political landscape heading into the 2027 presidential election is fundamentally different from the one that produced a highly competitive 2023 contest.
Wike made the remarks during a media briefing focused on the recently concluded Osun State governorship election, which was won by a candidate from outside the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
‘2027 will be different’
The FCT minister argued that the outcome of a governorship election cannot automatically be used to predict a presidential contest.
According to him, state elections are heavily shaped by local political dynamics, while a nationwide election operates on an entirely different scale.
His verdict on a Tinubu–opposition contest was blunt:
“If it is this 2027 election against Bola Ahmed Tinubu, forget it. It’s over.”
Wike described the opposition as “crippled and depleted”, pointing to what he characterized as persistent divisions among opposition politicians.
Attack on opposition leadership
Wike also took aim at prominent opposition figures, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and Peter Obi of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).
He questioned the ability of opposition politicians to mount a serious national challenge while struggling with internal disagreements and disappointing results in recent governorship contests.
The minister recalled the role played by the G5 governors during the 2023 election, arguing that alliances of that nature can significantly influence presidential contests.
His broader point was that removing an incumbent government requires more than criticism of its performance.
It requires a strong, organized and sustained opposition.
‘Ask us about federal might’
Wike also rejected claims that federal power was used to influence the Osun election in favour of the APC.
He challenged critics to distinguish between political allegations and what he described as the kind of federal intervention he personally experienced during the 2019 Rivers State election.
According to Wike, the security presence and political pressure witnessed in Rivers at the time were far more pronounced than anything seen during the Osun contest.
He therefore questioned whether the circumstances in Osun could reasonably be described as an example of the federal might that opposition figures have alleged.
A different political environment from 2023
Reflecting on the 2023 presidential election, Wike described that contest as difficult and unpredictable, saying uncertainty at the time extended even to state governors.
He argued that the political environment has since changed.
For Wike, the opposition’s biggest weakness is not simply its numerical strength but its lack of a settled strategy for challenging the incumbent.
He said a serious attempt to unseat a sitting government requires an opposition movement that has spent years building its structure and strategy—not one still searching for an appropriate political platform.
Wike backs Tinubu’s democratic approach
The FCT minister also praised the Tinubu administration for allowing political and democratic processes to operate without what he described as undue interference.
His confidence in Tinubu’s 2027 prospects ultimately rests on his assessment of the opposition: unless the opposition becomes more unified, organized and strategically prepared, he believes the president will face little difficulty securing another term.
