2027 Presidential Election Will Be Easiest For Tinubu — Wike

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will face a much easier battle in the 2027 presidential election compared with the 2023 contest.

Wike made the assessment on Tuesday in Abuja while responding to questions about the recently concluded Osun State governorship election during a press briefing.

The minister said the political opposition was currently weakened by internal divisions and lacked the strength and organisation required to mount a serious challenge against the ruling All Progressives Congress and its presidential candidate.

He also defended the federal government’s handling of elections, saying the administration should be credited for allowing electoral processes to take place without excessive interference.

According to Wike, claims that the federal government manipulated elections often depend on which side wins. He said politicians who lose elections tend to accuse the government of interfering, while those who win often present the outcome as evidence of their own political strength.

The minister rejected claims that federal power was used to influence the outcome of the Osun governorship election in favour of the APC. He said politicians making such accusations should compare the situation with previous elections where the use of security agencies and other federal institutions was more visible.

Wike referred to the 2019 governorship election in Rivers State, where he said he witnessed what he described as the full use of federal power. He argued that the events in Osun did not resemble what occurred in Rivers during that period.

Turning to the 2027 presidential election, Wike said the political environment had changed considerably from what existed before the 2023 general election.

He described the 2023 presidential contest as a difficult period for Tinubu, saying there was uncertainty over how the then federal government would act and that many governors were concerned about the direction of the election.

According to Wike, the situation in 2027 is likely to be different because the opposition has not shown the level of preparation and unity required to defeat an incumbent president.

He argued that removing a sitting government at the national level requires a strong and organised opposition that has spent years building its structure, developing its message and preparing for the election.

Wike said the opposition could not wait until an election was approaching before trying to build a political platform. He criticised politicians who, according to him, were still searching for political parties to join instead of working on a clear strategy for challenging the ruling party.

The minister also took aim at the African Democratic Congress and some politicians who previously contested the presidency under the Peoples Democratic Party. He pointed to divisions within opposition ranks and their performance in recent elections as signs of their political weakness.

He also referred to the role played by the G5 governors during the 2023 presidential election, suggesting that their actions affected the strength of the opposition at the time.

Wike, however, cautioned against using the results of governorship elections as the only measure of a party’s strength in a presidential election. He said governorship contests were often shaped by local political interests, personalities and state-specific issues, while presidential elections involved a much wider national structure.

The minister therefore argued that the opposition would need more than victories in individual states to defeat Tinubu at the national level in 2027.

He said that based on the present political situation, the 2027 presidential contest would be a much more difficult challenge for opposition parties and a far easier election for Tinubu than the 2023 race.

Wike also addressed concerns over the state of the Nigerian economy and the dissatisfaction expressed by some citizens. He urged Nigerians to assess governments by the actions they take to address problems rather than relying solely on emotions or political sentiments.

He said effective leadership should be measured by the ability to identify problems, develop solutions and take practical steps to improve the situation.

The minister maintained that governments should receive recognition for efforts directed at solving challenges, even when all problems had not been completely resolved.

Wike’s comments come as political parties and potential presidential contenders begin positioning themselves ahead of the 2027 general election, with alliances and defections expected to shape the political landscape in the months ahead.