Only PDP Can Challenge Tinubu In 2027, Says Wike, Slams Opposition Coalition

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has dismissed the credibility of the coalition formed against President Bola Tinubu’s administration, declaring that only the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has the structure to mount a real challenge in the 2027 elections.

Speaking during his monthly media briefing in Abuja on Thursday, Wike criticized former political leaders in the coalition for blaming Nigeria’s challenges on Tinubu, arguing they failed to deliver when they held power.

“I heard David Mark say Nigerians are angry. But when he was Senate President for eight years, Nigerians weren’t angry then? There wasn’t even a single project in Otukpo, and he flew there by helicopter,” Wike said.

He also took a swipe at former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, and ex-Speaker Aminu Tambuwal, questioning what they did to better Nigerians’ lives while in office. “If people who’ve never held power talk about rescuing Nigeria, I might listen. But not those who were at the helm for years and left the country where it is today,” he stated.

Wike defended Tinubu’s recent policies, insisting tough decisions were necessary to stabilise the country. “If this President hadn’t taken some critical steps, which may be tough, imagine where we would be today,” he added.

He urged Nigerians to stop allowing themselves to be used by politicians, stressing that the electorate is often swayed by ethnic and religious sentiments rather than candidates’ records. “It’s your choice as voters. You vote based on ethnicity and religion instead of performance. That’s why we keep recycling the same people,” he noted.

While acknowledging the opposition’s right to mobilize, Wike maintained that only the PDP could pose a genuine electoral threat if it reorganises. “The so-called coalition has even fractured itself. The only party that can still challenge this government, if they put themselves together, is the PDP,” he concluded.