The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has stated unequivocally that he will not be contesting the 2027 presidential election against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Wike, who is a former governor of Rivers State and a key figure in the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), made the disclosure during an interview with BBC Pidgin. According to him, it would be disloyal and illogical to challenge a sitting president whom he currently serves under.
“I will not contest again. I cannot contest against someone I work with. Who will win except him?” he said.
This comes amidst speculation surrounding his political future and rumored defection plans. Wike reaffirmed that he remains a member of the PDP, despite his long-standing criticisms of the party’s leadership, especially following its loss in the 2023 presidential election.
Recall that Wike had vied for the PDP presidential ticket in 2022 but lost to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar. Since then, he has been outspoken about the internal cracks within the party and its decision to zone the ticket to the North.
“I cannot do that kind of thing. Am I a fearful man? Am I a weak man? How will I build a house and then you come to frustrate me and I run away? Who will leave? You will leave. I will not allow you to spoil the house I built. I will stay there,” Wike declared.
On Rivers State Crisis
Wike also touched on the political turmoil in Rivers State, where tensions have escalated between his loyalists and supporters of incumbent Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
Despite persistent reports of a rift, Wike dismissed suggestions that he was trying to undermine the governor, whom he referred to as “my boy” and “my son”.
“That boy is my boy, my son. How will I fight a battle against him? The people I am fighting are people who want to steal what they didn’t work for,” he explained.
He also revealed that President Tinubu had personally reached out to him in a bid to broker peace in Rivers.
“The President called me to say let’s make peace. I said, ‘Boss, how can you tell me to go make peace when I don’t want to go?’ If I don’t want peace, look where I am sitting now, I am sitting here with some governors, one former governor sitting here. I told him, the yam is in your hand and the knife. You know how you want peace. If you want good peace, take it; if you want fake peace, okay.”
Wike strongly denied accusations that he is playing selfish politics or manipulating the PDP from within. Rather, he said his actions are guided by a desire to protect the party and defend his legacy.
“I am in politics to defend what I’ve built over the years. I’m not doing this for selfish reasons,” he emphasized.
Despite his blunt criticism of PDP’s leadership and his alliance with the APC-led Federal Government, Wike maintained that he has no plans to defect and will continue to advocate for reform within his party.
Nyesom Wike has ruled out a 2027 presidential run and reaffirmed loyalty to the PDP while criticizing the party’s disunity. He addressed the ongoing political tension in Rivers State and denied undermining Governor Fubara, emphasizing his commitment to peace and political stability.
