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Peter Obi has rejected the suggestion that he would pursue or victimise FCT Minister Nyesom Wike if he becomes President in 2027, saying he is seeking office to address Nigeria’s problems, not chase political opponents.
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Obi was responding to Wike’s warning that he could become the first target of Obi and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar if President Bola Tinubu loses the 2027 presidential election.
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The former Anambra State governor described Wike as a “very good friend” and recalled that the FCT Minister appeared healthier and happier when they previously worked together.
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Wike expressed his fear during a media chat in Port Harcourt while explaining his continued support for Tinubu’s re-election despite remaining a member of the Peoples Democratic Party.
September 16, (THEWILL) – Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), has rejected the suggestion that he would pursue Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike if he wins the 2027 presidential election.
Obi said he was not seeking the presidency to chase political opponents or settle personal scores, insisting that his focus would be on the country and what could be achieved in government.
He spoke during an interview on 90 Minutes Africa, an online political and current-affairs programme hosted by journalist and commentator Rudolf Okonkwo.
Obi was responding to Wike’s recent claim that he could become a target of Obi and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar if President Bola Tinubu loses the 2027 presidential election.
Wike had said during a media chat in Port Harcourt that he would be the first politician targeted by Atiku and Obi should Tinubu fail to secure re-election.
“My concern is, I will support Mr President. If you watch what is happening today and look at it, peradventure anything happens and Mr President fails today, I will be the first politician that Atiku or Obi will hunt for his head,” Wike said.
He added that he would not “make that mistake of sleeping to see that the President loses the election,” stressing that his support for Tinubu’s re-election was deliberate.
Responding, Obi dismissed the idea that his presidential ambition was driven by a desire to settle political scores.
“Someone even told me that Wike said if I became president, he would be the first victim. I’m not campaigning to be president to start pursuing people,” Obi said.
The former Anambra governor said his objective was to assume office and focus on the future rather than spend his tenure pursuing individuals.
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Obi also spoke about his past relationship with Wike, describing the FCT Minister as “a very good friend of mine.”
He said photographs from the period when they worked together showed Wike appearing healthier and happier.
“If you see the pictures of Mr Wike when we were moving together, you can see how healthy he is and looking very well. So that means when we were together he was a much happier person and was enjoying himself,” Obi said.
Obi’s comment was made in the context of their earlier political relationship and was not presented as an assertion that Wike is currently ill.
The relationship between the two politicians dates back to the period when Obi was governor of Anambra State and Wike served as Minister of State for Education. Wike later became supervising Minister of Education before becoming governor of Rivers State in 2015.
Their political paths subsequently diverged. Wike backed Bola Tinubu during the 2023 presidential election after falling out with Atiku over the 2022 PDP presidential primary, while Obi contested the 2023 presidential election on the platform of the Labour Party.
Wike is currently serving as FCT Minister in the Tinubu administration while retaining his membership of the PDP. Despite his party affiliation, he has openly supported Tinubu’s bid for a second term in 2027.
His Port Harcourt comments reflected his stated concern that his political alignment with Tinubu could expose him to reprisals should the opposition take power.
“You want me to fold my hands for Atiku Abubakar to come and win the election?” Wike asked during the media chat.
Obi, however, said his own approach to the presidency would not be centred on political retribution, stressing that he was seeking the office to concentrate on Nigeria’s future rather than pursue those with whom he had political disagreements.
Felix Ifijeh is a journalist with years of professional reporting experience. Known for his keen news sense, compelling storytelling and commitment to accurate, impactful reporting, he has built a reputation for turning leads into clear, engaging, and well-structured reports that resonate with readers. His work reflects deep newsroom experience and a commitment to accurate, impactful journalism.
