The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has revealed why he rejected Peter Obi, the Labour Party presidential candidate for the 2023 general elections.
Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja on Friday, Wike dismissed Obi’s candidacy as unrealistic, describing him as a “social media candidate” who lacked the political structure necessary to secure a win.
“No, he had no chance of winning the election,” Wike stated. “I don’t engage with people like this kind of social media candidate.”
Wike, a former governor of Rivers State and a key figure in the 2023 political landscape, emphasized that his decisions were based on political analysis and the viability of candidates, rather than their online popularity.
“I analyze the candidate who is likely to win, as that’s the role of a politician,” he explained. “In politics, it’s not always about who is the best candidate. So many factors come into play in Nigeria.”
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The FCT Minister highlighted challenges that shaped the 2023 elections, including the controversial naira redesign policy and widespread fuel scarcity, which, he said, created a volatile atmosphere ahead of the polls.
“It was very, very turbulent for Tinubu to get to that election,” Wike remarked, referring to now-President Bola Tinubu. “It was a one-party administration, and you could see that people didn’t want to speak the truth before the election.”
Despite these hurdles, Wike commended Tinubu’s ability to overcome the odds, attributing his victory to political strategy, experience, and divine favor.
“No party in government would introduce such policies when they know they’re running an election,” Wike said. “But everything was done, and he survived it. He survived it.”
Wike concluded by acknowledging Tinubu’s mastery of political tactics, saying, “That’s how you know that some people are successful—first, God is on their side, and second, they understand the game.”