By Ayomide Otitoju
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has categorically ruled out any intention to contest the 2027 presidential election, stating that he would not run against President Bola Tinubu, whom he currently serves under.
In an interview with BBC Pidgin, Wike dismissed any suggestion of future presidential ambition, saying, “I will not contest again. I cannot contest against someone I’m working with. Who would win, if not him?”
Wike, a former governor of Rivers State, previously sought the presidential ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ahead of the 2023 elections but lost to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar. His defeat was marred by controversy over the PDP’s failure to zone the ticket to the South, a decision that deepened internal divisions and weakened the party’s electoral performance.
President Tinubu, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), was ultimately declared winner of the election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
In the interview, Wike did not hold back in his criticism of the PDP’s leadership and structure, particularly targeting senior figures he accused of lacking political relevance.
“Let me ask you, who is in the PDP? Achike Udenwa, a former governor of Imo, does not have one National Assembly member. He did not give his party three percent of the votes,” Wike said.
He continued, “The former governor of Ebonyi State does not have one assembly member; he does not have one National Assembly member. You did not produce a governor, and you are issuing threats. What are you threatening? You are empty.”
Despite ongoing speculation about his political allegiance, Wike insisted he would not defect from the PDP, stressing his commitment to staying and defending the party.
“I cannot do that kind of thing (defection). I am not a fearful man. Am I a weak man? How will I build a house, and you will come and frustrate me to leave? Who will leave? You will leave; I will not allow you to spoil the house I built. I will remain,” he declared.
The PDP has recently been hit by a wave of defections. Notably, Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and his deputy, along with several members of the state House of Assembly and the executive council, have decamped to the APC. They were joined by former Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, the PDP’s 2023 vice presidential candidate.
In Kebbi State, three PDP senators — Adamu Aliero (Kebbi Central), Yahaya Abdullahi (Kebbi North), and Garba Maidoki (Kebbi South) — have also defected to the APC, dealing another blow to the opposition party.
