Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr Nyesom Wike, says the 2027 presidential election will be the easiest contest for President Bola Tinubu, following what he described as “crippled and depleted” opposition.
Wike stated this in Abuja on Tuesday while reacting to the outcome of last Saturday’s Osun governorship election won by Gov Ademola Adeleke of Accord for a second term.
Reflecting on past elections, the minister contrasted the current political climate with the 2023 general election, which he described as “stressful and uncertain for Tinubu”.
He told journalists that the 2023 election was a tough election for the president, adding that nobody knew what the government at the time was trying to do.
“Even governors were afraid. But 2027 will be different. 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.
“If it is this 2027 election against Tinubu, forget it. It’s over”, he said.
The minister said that Tinubu’s administration deserved credit for allowing democratic processes to run naturally without undue interference, particularly in the Osun election.
He disagreed with opposition parties’ claims that they defeated the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) at the polls despite support by the Federal Government, saying those making such claims had never experienced federal might in an election.
“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.
“They don’t know what a federal might is. I think they should come and ask people like us who faced federal might in 2019.
“In Rivers State, in 2019, we saw what is called federal might. We saw soldiers taking over everywhere. Did anything like that happen in Osun?” he queried.
Wike criticised opposition parties, pointing out what he called their internal divisions and poor performances in recent governorship polls.
He cited the influence of the G5 Governors in the 2023 election, noting that without such support, opposition figures stand little chance in national contests.
“Governorship elections rely on local variables, but a national election is a completely different ballgame,” he said.
