Wike Says Peter Obi Has Lost His 2023 Popularity and Cannot Challenge Tinubu in 2027

(Nyesom Wike And Peter Obi. Photo by Daily Post)

The FCT Minister Nyesom Wike says the political wave that lifted Peter Obi in the 2023 election is gone.

Speaking at his media chat on Thursday, Wike said opposition parties cannot seriously challenge President Bola Tinubu in 2027.

He also doubted there would be a runoff.

When a journalist said Wike was underestimating the opposition, Wike asked who would face Tinubu in a runoff.

He said Nigerians have already given opposition politicians a chance to govern and they did not deliver.

Wike described Obi as having nothing to offer and called him a dramatist.

He also questioned whether Obi still has the same financial support as in 2023.

He asked how many people are still giving money to Obi and then said those who gave last time are no longer giving.

He pointed to Senator Ireti Kingibe, who won the FCT Senate seat for the Labour Party in 2023.

Wike said her win came from the wave of that time, not from a strong party structure, and he said she could try to win again.

Wike accepted that Rabiu Kwankwaso is popular.

Kwankwaso won Kano in 2023, but Wike asked how many votes he got in other northern states.

He also said the North alone cannot hand victory to the opposition.

He pointed to states in the North Central, such as Plateau, Benue, Kogi, Kwara and Nasarawa, and asked what would happen there.

Wike also took a swipe at Atiku Abubakar.

He said Atiku did not campaign in Rivers State during the 2023 election and ran away from the state.

Wike said he had backed voting for Tinubu in 2023 despite pressure from Atiku's supporters.

Obi, who came third in 2023, has since left the Labour Party and joined the Nigeria Democratic Congress for his next run.

During his 2023 run for office, he won over a huge number of young people, and his the group is known as Obidient movement.