The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has said President Bola Tinubu’s re-election will be easy in 2027

He said the opposition political parties are being “crippled and depleted.”

The FCT minister, in a statement on Tuesday, commended Mr Tinubu’s administration for the smooth political and electoral process in Osun State, which he said took place without any government interference. 

Recall that Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke was re-elected in the August 15 governorship poll, defeating the All Progressives’ candidate, Bola Oyebamiji; his closest rival, including other 13 contestants.

“When they lose, they claim the government manipulated the process; when they win, they show off their might. It does not work that way. 

“From what I have seen, this government allows processes to run their own way, and they must be given credit for that,” Mr Wike said.

The minister also dismissed claims that the current administration plotted to use “federal might” to help the APC candidate win the Osun State governorship election. 

Mr Wike said, “They don’t know what federal might is. I think they should come and ask people like us who faced federal might in 2019. In Rivers State, in 2019, we saw what is called federal might. We saw soldiers taking over everywhere. Did anything like that happen in Osun State?”

The minister also compared the 2023 presidential polls, which he described as stressful and uncertain, arguing that the current electoral process would make the 2027 polls easier for President Tinubu.

“2023 was a tough election for him. Nobody knew what the government at the time was trying to do, and even governors were afraid. 

“But 2027 will be different. To remove a government, you need a strong, vibrant opposition that has spent over four years planning, not one that is constantly looking for a party to join,” Mr Wike said.

The minister berated opposition candidates and parties, particularly members of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and former presidential candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who he said lacked internal unity and exhibited poor runs in recent governorship polls.

Mr Wike pointed out the influence of the G5 Governors in the 2023 polls and commended efforts from the leaders in the election, stating that the opposition lacked support in presidential elections. 

He said, “Governorship elections rely on local variables, but a national election is a completely different ballgame. If it is this 2027 election against Bola Ahmed Tinubu, forget it. It’s over.”

The FCT minister also addressed the current economic situation in Nigeria, urging citizens not to evaluate leaders through emotions but rather through measures on how shifts in the economy could be addressed.

Mr Wike said, “Leadership is defined by the steps you take to solve problems. When someone identifies a problem and takes concrete action to fix it, that is the effort people should appreciate.”