The political temperature in Nigeria has spiked following the open declaration by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, to lead President Bola Tinubu’s re-election campaign in 2027 — a move that has sparked outrage within the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and across other political blocs.
During a Monday media parley in Abuja, Wike, a former Rivers State governor and prominent PDP figure, doubled down on his controversial position, dismissing allegations of anti-party activities and daring the PDP leadership to suspend him. He declared himself an “asset” in Tinubu’s political machinery and maintained that his support was anchored on principle, citing PDP’s alleged betrayal of its zoning agreement in 2023.
“I am still in the PDP… I am not a liability, I am an asset. Whether you agree or you don’t agree… I am an asset to making sure that Tinubu wins his second term,” Wike asserted boldly.
Wike’s comments have drawn swift condemnation.
PDP Reacts: “We Will Enforce Our Laws”
Responding, Timothy Osadolor, PDP’s Deputy National Youth Leader, dismissed Wike’s statements as desperate outbursts, claiming the minister had lost all real influence within the party.
“Wike has lost the class and influence he once had. He is no longer central to PDP leadership and should be ignored,” Osadolor told The PUNCH, expressing optimism that Nigerians will reject Tinubu in 2027.
A senior PDP official also confirmed that disciplinary action is being considered, stating: “At the right time, we shall enforce our laws on him and others.”
Bode George: “PDP Will Not Back Tinubu”
PDP Board of Trustees member, Chief Bode George, joined the fray, reiterating that the party will present a southern presidential candidate in 2027 and not back Tinubu, who is of the ruling APC.
“The PDP will not rally round Tinubu. He is not a member of our party. In 2027, it will still be the turn of a southerner, and we will find a southerner in PDP,” George vowed.
He blamed the 2023 election loss on the abandonment of the party’s zoning principle, a mistake he said the party had resolved never to repeat.
CUPP, NNPP, ADP and Others Slam Wike
The Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP), New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), and others described Wike as a “political hitman” and “President’s hatchet man”, accusing him of working within PDP to destabilise the opposition.
CUPP’s Publicity Secretary, Mark Adebayo, remarked:
“Wike is not truly a PDP member; he’s an agent working to destroy the opposition. But he and Tinubu will be rejected by the people in 2027.”
NNPP’s spokesperson, Ladipo Johnson, called on PDP to act decisively:
“If the PDP is too weak to discipline members like Wike, then they’re unfit to lead the opposition.”
Criticism From Across the Political Spectrum
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Okey Udo (ADP 2023 VP candidate) labelled Wike’s actions anti-party and reflective of internal PDP disorganisation.
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Charles Udeogaranya, ex-APC presidential aspirant, said Wike must choose a side: “He cannot belong to two parties at once.”
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Yunusa Tanko, leader of the Obidient Movement, said Wike no longer represents opposition ideals: “He speaks for whoever pays him.”
Public Mood and 2027 Outlook
The central consensus across opposition voices is that Nigerians, not politicians, will decide 2027. Many believe the harsh economic conditions under Tinubu’s administration will be the decisive factor.
“The golden question in 2027,” Johnson of the NNPP said, “will be: are Nigerians better off than in January 2023?”
Wike, meanwhile, remains defiant, citing his 2023 electoral success in Rivers State as proof of his political might — claiming full control over National Assembly seats and governorship results.
What’s Next?
As the PDP mulls disciplinary actions and attempts to rebuild internal cohesion, the broader opposition seems to be coalescing around a shared resentment of Wike’s cross-party loyalty. Whether the FCT Minister will formally exit PDP for APC remains to be seen — but his bold declaration has thrown the fragile unity of Nigeria’s opposition into a new phase of turbulence ahead of the 2027 showdown.
