Ahead 2027 Polls; Wike Mocks Opposition Parties Says They’re Fragmented

By Ayodele Oni

In Osun, Governor Adeleke won because President Tinubu allowed the election to be free  and fair – Wike

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has observed that opposition parties in Nigeria are fragmented making it difficult for any of them to defeat President Bola Tinubu in 2027.

He boasted that President Tinubu will have an easier time winning the 2027 presidential election than he did in 2023.

Wike stated this on Tuesday, while speaking during an inspection tour of flood-affected areas in the Federal Capital Territory.

Wike pointed out that the fragmented nature of the opposition would make it difficult for the parties to mount a strong challenge against Tinubu in 2027.

He declared, “This election, the 2027 election, will be the easiest election for Mr President. 2023 was a tough election for him.”

The former Rivers State governor further argued that the opposition had been weakened by defections and political movements ahead of the next election.

“This election, where the opposition has been crippled,  you know what it means? Depleted; they finished them.”

Wike maintained that a credible opposition needed to spend years building a strong political structure instead of moving from one party to another in search of an electoral platform.

 “For you to be opposition to remove a government, it must be what you call a strong, vibrant opposition that has stayed for over four years planning, not opposition that is looking for a party to run to.

“Today, they’re going to Party A. So, you see, that kind of opposition can never win.”

Wike was emphatic about Tinubu’s chances in 2027, saying, “If it is this 2027 election against Bola Ahmed Tinubu, no, forget it. It’s over.”

The minister dismissed criticism from opposition politicians and commentators, saying their media appearances would not erase what he described as the achievements of the Tinubu administration over the past three years.

 “I don’t want to reply to political commentaries. I don’t want to reply to people who think that appearing before media houses will give them an edge to win an election that they have lost. No.

“Nobody can diminish what this administration has done in the past three years. Nobody can diminish it. This administration has done very well as far as the Federal Capital Territory is concerned.”

According to him, although the government has not solved all the country’s problems, it has made progress in addressing major challenges.

He added, “That does not mean I claim that we have solved all problems, no. Are we solving problems? Yes. Have we solved major problems? Yes. Will we continue to solve problems? Yes.”

On last Saturday’s governorship election in Osun state, Wike, said Governor Ademola Adeleke of Accord Party won the  election because President Bola Tinubu allowed the poll to be free and fair.

 Wike dismissed claims that the Federal Government manipulated the poll, arguing that Tinubu allowed the democratic process to take its course.

The minister noted that the outcome of the election demonstrated that the Federal Government did not deploy its influence to undermine the opposition.

“The President called him… congratulating him (Adeleke). What does it tell you? If Tinubu did not allow a free and fair election, would they have won? No!”

The minister also pushed back against claims of federal might being used to influence elections, drawing from his experience of previous electoral contests.

“When you say force of the federal government… ask those who have survived it, though—people like me who survived federal might. It’s not by saying ‘they say, they say.’ It’s not true.”