The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory has ruled out any possibility of running for president against his current boss, President Tinubu, in the 2027 general election.
In an interview with BBC Pidgin, the minister stated that no politician could challenge Tinubu in the upcoming election.
“I will not contest again. I cannot run against someone I am working with. Who else could win except him?” he questioned.
There has been speculation within the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) about zoning its presidential ticket to the south in 2027, in an effort to mount a stronger challenge against Tinubu.
Wike, who lost the 2022 PDP presidential primary to Atiku Abubakar—who went on to become the party’s candidate for the 2023 election—spoke about the ongoing crisis within the PDP. He expressed his dissatisfaction with some party members and criticized the opposition’s approach.
“You are in the opposition; the opposition should not display impunity. Arrogance is for the ruling party because they are in power,” he remarked.
Wike went on to criticize certain PDP figures, including Achike Udenwa, former governor of Imo, and Saba Egu, former governor of Ebonyi. “Udenwa doesn’t have a single assembly member or national assembly member. He didn’t give his party 3% of the vote, yet he’s making threats. Egu also doesn’t have any assembly members or national assembly members, and didn’t produce a governor. What exactly are they threatening?” he said, describing them as empty threats.
