Wike says Tinubu will find 2027 election easier than 2023

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has said President Bola Tinubu will find it easier to win the 2027 presidential election compared to 2023.

Wike made this statement while he was inspecting flood-affected areas in the Federal Capital Territory on Monday.

He pointed out that the divided opposition would struggle to challenge Tinubu strongly in 2027.

He declared, “This election, the 2027 election, will be the easiest election for Mr President. 2023 was a tough election for him.”

The former governor of Rivers State said that the opposition has grown weaker due to defections and political movements leading up to the next election.

He noted, “This election, where the opposition has been crippled, you know what it means? Depleted; they finished them.”

Wike emphasized that for a credible opposition to form, it needs years to build a strong political structure instead of jumping from one party to another.

He said, “For you to be opposition to remove a government, it must be what you call a strong, vibrant opposition that has stayed for over four years planning, not opposition that is looking for a party to run to.”

He added, “Today, they’re going to Party A. So, you see, that kind of opposition can never win.”

Wike was clear about Tinubu’s chances in 2027, saying, “If it is this 2027 election against Bola Ahmed Tinubu, no, forget it. It’s over.”

The minister dismissed the criticism from opposition politicians and commentators, saying their media appearances would not change what he called the successes of the Tinubu administration over the past three years.

Wike said, “I don’t want to reply to political commentaries. I don’t want to reply to people who think that appearing before media houses will give them an edge to win an election that they have lost. No.”

He insisted that the achievements of the administration cannot be downplayed by political attacks.

He said, “Nobody can diminish what this administration has done in the past three years. Nobody can diminish it. This administration has done very well as far as the Federal Capital Territory is concerned.”

According to him, even though the government has not solved all the country’s problems, it has made progress in tackling major challenges.

He added, “That does not mean I claim that we have solved all problems, no. Are we solving problems? Yes. Have we solved major problems? Yes. Will we continue to solve problems? Yes.”

The minister also talked about the government's response to flooding and illegal structures in the FCT.

He warned officials of the FCT Development Control Department against using bureaucratic delays to avoid enforcement operations, saying the administration is ready to act against structures blocking waterways.

Wike said, “And let nobody make a mistake that this government lacks the political will to do anything. The person must be making a very big mistake. If there is one minister that has that political will, I have. I have the political will.”

He ordered that any houses found on waterways should be demolished, no matter who owns them.

He said, “I’m going to bring those houses down! Any house that’s found on the water channel will go down!”

Wike said this enforcement will continue despite the upcoming election.

He added, “Whether there is an election, oh, there’s no election, oh, all those houses will go down. Heaven will not fall; rather, heaven will be at peace that the right thing has been done.”

The minister also criticized the conversion of green areas in Abuja into commercial parks and other developments.

He said some people have tried to justify these developments based on historical claims about land allocations.

Wike said, “Because something that was done wrongly will not be corrected? No, we will not allow that. We won’t.”

He assured residents that desilting and other infrastructure work will continue in flood-prone areas, including Lokogoma and the Yakubu Gowon Crescent axis in Asokoro.

He also urged residents to help tackle flooding by properly disposing of waste and avoiding activities that could block drainage channels.