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FCT Minister Nyesom Wike says he expects to be among the first politicians targeted if President Bola Tinubu loses the 2027 presidential election.
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Wike has declared that the APC will defeat the opposition in the Federal Capital Territory in the 2027 presidential election, saying his administration’s performance in Abuja would demonstrate that effective governance is possible when leaders are committed to working.
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The former Rivers State governor says he will not sit back and allow Atiku Abubakar or Peter Obi to defeat Tinubu, insisting that his political activities and calculations are now focused on securing the President’s victory.
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Wike has also accused Imo Governor Hope Uzodinma and Kwara Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq of working against him, alleging that both politicians have failed to reciprocate the political support he previously gave them.
September 02, (THEWILL) — Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has said he expects to be among the first politicians targeted if President Bola Tinubu loses the 2027 presidential election, declaring that he has staked his political future on ensuring the President secures a second term.
Wike, who remains a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) but serves in the APC-led Federal Government, said his open support for Tinubu had made him a marked political target and that he was fully aware of the consequences should the opposition defeat the President.
Speaking during a media parley in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, monitored by THEWILL on Wednesday, the former Rivers State governor said he had no regrets about his political position.
“I will be the first politician that I think they will come after. I will be the first politician. I know they will come for my head,” Wike said.
The minister said he would not be intimidated by the possibility of political reprisals, stressing that his commitment to Tinubu’s re-election had become the overriding focus of his political activities.
“Each day I sleep, I am thinking about the president’s reelection. When I am eating, I think about the president’s reelection. Everything I am doing now is about the president’s reelection,” he said.
Wike also dismissed the barrage of criticism directed at him over his support for Tinubu, saying he had been subjected to intense attacks and name-calling because of his political alignment.
“I don’t see where anybody in this country today has been called names the way my name has been. I am not bothered about people who say their [own] thing. My business is, as I said, I am going to support Mr President,” he declared.
Wike: ‘I Won’t Fold My Arms For Atiku’
The FCT minister also dismissed suggestions that his increased presence in Rivers State was an indication that he intended to relocate from Abuja ahead of the 2027 elections.
Wike said his visits were aimed at maintaining contact with his political base and personally monitoring developments in the state rather than abandoning his responsibilities in the nation’s capital.
“It’s not about relocating, it’s about coming home to relate with the people and talk to them, and also do those things you know how to do very well, not to take chances.
“So I’m not relocating. I don’t need to relocate, but I also have to be in touch with my people so that I don’t just sit in Abuja and then say that everything is going on there well,” he said.
Wike emphasised that he would not depend solely on assurances from political associates that everything was going according to plan.
He stated, “I don’t want to sit in Abuja and candidates are saying, ‘oh, don’t bother, everything is going on well’. I have to come home and see that all those things are going on. ‘Have you done this? Have you done this? What about this? What about this?’”
Wike described the period as politically significant and rejected the idea that he should remain passive while Atiku and other opposition politicians mobilise for 2027.
“You want me to fold my hands for Atiku Abubakar to come and win the election?” he asked.
Wike Dismisses Tinubu’s Northern Loss Prediction, Predicts APC Victory In FCT
Wike also expressed confidence that the APC would defeat other political parties in the Federal Capital Territory during the 2027 presidential election, linking his prediction to what he described as the performance of his administration in Abuja.
The minister said his stewardship of the FCT was intended to demonstrate that governance could produce tangible results when political leaders were prepared to work.
According to him, there was nothing particularly difficult about governance if those entrusted with public office were willing to put in the necessary effort.
“No party will win the presidential election in the FCT except the APC. I came to the FCT to prove a point, there is nothing difficult about governance if you choose to work. You can check my record as Governor of Rivers State,” Wike said.
The minister pointed to his record as Rivers State governor as evidence of his capacity to deliver on his responsibilities, arguing that his approach to the FCT was based on the same emphasis on execution and performance.
His claim of an impending APC victory in the FCT adds another dimension to his broader campaign for Tinubu’s re-election, particularly as Abuja’s political significance makes the territory an important battleground ahead of 2027.
Wike also rejected claims that Tinubu could suffer significant electoral losses in northern Nigeria in 2027 as a result of economic hardship, insecurity and the removal of the petrol subsidy.
He argued that the political circumstances that shaped the 2023 election had changed, insisting that the alliances, structures and calculations that will determine the 2027 election cannot simply be assumed to be the same.
“There’s no way in the North the President will not make 25 per cent,” Wike said.
He maintained that Tinubu could also record relatively low percentages in parts of southern Nigeria, arguing that political analysts should not treat entire regions as homogeneous voting blocs.
According to him, local political structures, influential individuals, alliances and the calculations of political actors would be critical to the outcome of the 2027 presidential election.
Wike also dismissed claims that his influence in northern Nigeria had waned, saying political influence should be assessed through the structures and networks politicians command rather than narratives circulating in the media.
He further questioned claims that northern politicians were not already positioning themselves for the 2031 presidential race.
“Who told you they are not preparing themselves to run for 2031? Who told you that?” he asked.
Wike suggested that some northern politicians could be pursuing their own political calculations for both 2027 and 2031, even while participating in the current political contest.
‘Hunger Alone Won’t Decide 2027’
The minister also challenged arguments that economic hardship, hunger and insecurity would automatically translate into votes against Tinubu.
He urged journalists and political commentators to take greater account of grassroots political structures and the influence of local political leaders when assessing electoral outcomes.
“In every community, in every family, people look up to somebody in terms of vote,” Wike said.
He argued that voters’ decisions are influenced by a combination of factors and that political actors must deploy strategies based on their strengths and the weaknesses of their opponents.
Wike said the alliances and structures that shaped the 2023 presidential election had evolved, suggesting that the 2027 contest would be fought under a substantially different political configuration.
Wike accuded Imo state Governor Hope Uzodinma and Kwara State Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq of working against him despite the support he claimed to have offered them in the past.
Wike Accuses Uzodinma, Abdulrazaq of betrayal
The FCT minister also opened another front in his political battle, accusing Imo State Governor Hope Uzodinma and Kwara State Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq of working against him despite the support he claimed to have offered them in the past.
Wike singled out Abdulrazaq, alleging that the Kwara governor had been at the forefront of what he described as a campaign against him.
“Take for example, Kwara, he has been the one championing this campaign against me everywhere. Yes, I have confronted him too. I don’t talk about what I cannot defend,” he said.
According to Wike, Abdulrazaq had accused him of sponsoring candidates against the governor’s preferred candidates in the state.
The FCT minister, however, argued that the Kwara governor should appreciate his role in providing a political platform for aggrieved APC figures who defected to the PDP rather than joining the opposition coalition against Tinubu.
Wike also spoke about his relationship with Uzodinma, recalling that the Imo governor had previously declined to support him despite what he described as the political assistance he had provided.
“Governor Hope, he knows the support I give to him,” Wike said.
Despite the grievances, Wike insisted that his disagreements with the two governors would not distract him from his primary political objective of securing Tinubu’s re-election.
Wike said he had never concealed his political position or intentions and challenged those accusing him of working against APC governors to identify the support they had provided him during his own political battles.
“Any Nigerian who knows me knows that I have never hidden my intention,” he said.
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.
