OPPOSITION LACKS CAPACITY TO UNSEAT TINUBU IN 2027
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By:Tajudeen Aminat
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has said the opposition lacks the strength and organisation required to defeat President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election.
Wike made the assertion on Tuesday in Abuja while speaking to journalists about the outcome of the recently concluded Osun State governorship election.
The minister argued that the current administration should be commended for allowing electoral processes to take their course without undue interference.
He dismissed allegations that the Federal Government used its influence, popularly referred to as “federal might,” to favour the All Progressives Congress in the Osun election.
According to Wike, those making such claims should compare the situation with what he described as the use of federal power during the 2019 election in Rivers State.
“They don’t know what federal might is. I think they should come and ask people like us who faced federal might in 2019,” he said.
Wike recalled that soldiers were deployed across Rivers State during the 2019 election, questioning whether a similar situation occurred in Osun.
“In Rivers State, in 2019, we saw what is called federal might. We saw soldiers taking over everywhere. Did anything like that happen in Osun State?” he asked.
Turning to the 2027 presidential race, Wike said the contest would be different from the 2023 election, which he described as a difficult and uncertain battle for Tinubu.
“2023 was a tough election for him. Nobody knew what the government at the time was trying to do, and even governors were afraid,” he said.
The FCT minister argued that defeating an incumbent president would require a well-organised and formidable opposition that had spent years preparing for the election.
“To remove a government, you need a strong, vibrant opposition that has spent over four years planning, not one that is constantly looking for a party to join,” he said.
Wike criticised opposition parties, including the African Democratic Congress and some former Peoples Democratic Party presidential aspirants, citing internal divisions and their performances in recent governorship elections.
He also referenced the role of the G-5 Governors in the 2023 election, stressing that strong political alliances remained crucial to winning national elections.
According to him, while governorship elections are largely shaped by local political dynamics, presidential contests involve broader national calculations.
“Governorship elections rely on local variables, but a national election is a completely different ballgame,” he said.
Wike was particularly confident about Tinubu’s chances in 2027, declaring, “If it is this 2027 election against Bola Ahmed Tinubu, forget it. It’s over.”
On the economy, the minister urged Nigerians to evaluate leaders based on their efforts to identify and address the country’s challenges rather than judging them solely on emotions.
He said leaders should receive credit when they recognise problems and take concrete steps towards solving them.
Wike’s remarks come as political parties, opposition groups and potential presidential candidates intensify preparations and realignments ahead of the 2027 general elections.
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