Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has asserted that Peter Obi, the NDC presidential candidate, no longer enjoys the same level of support in the South-East as he did during the 2023 presidential election.
Wike made this claim during an interview on TVC News’ Journalists’ Hangout on Monday, while analyzing the evolving political landscape ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Wike, who previously served as governor of Rivers State, argued that the political dynamics that favored Obi in some regions during the last election have shifted significantly. He cautioned that Obi’s impressive performance in the South-East in 2023 should not be taken as an indicator of his current political influence as the 2027 race approaches. “The situation has changed. What worked for Obi then does not work for him now, and that’s simply the reality,” Wike said.
According to Wike, Obi’s strong showing in 2023 was partly due to the political strategies of the G5 governors—a group he led, including Seyi Makinde, Samuel Ortom, Okezie Ikpeazu, and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi. Wike explained that the G5 deliberately devised a strategy to prevent Atiku Abubakar, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, from dominating certain regions, which in turn benefited the Labour Party’s candidate. “We in the G5 had a plan. Our main concern was Atiku. So, in some places, we allowed Labour Party to have an edge,” Wike explained.
He added that Rivers State was intentionally treated differently, as he believed an Obi victory there could send an unintended political message. “Rivers was an exception. We couldn’t allow Obi to win here because of the signal it might send,” he stated.
Wike also dismissed the notion that large crowds at political rallies are a true measure of electoral strength, emphasizing that genuine support extends beyond public gatherings. “If you judge by rally attendance alone, you are making a big mistake,” he warned.
Looking ahead to 2027, Wike urged politicians not to base their strategies solely on the dynamics of the previous election. “No matter what is said about me, the truth is that this election belongs to Tinubu. Others should prepare for 2031,” he stated.
Peter Obi, who ran for president in 2023 on the Labour Party ticket and finished third behind Bola Tinubu of the APC and Atiku Abubakar of the PDP, is now expected to contest the 2027 presidential election as the candidate of the NDC.
