Byline: IDNN Politics Desk
Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, has declared that he will not contest the 2027 presidential election, insisting that his integrity bars him from betraying commitments already made.
Speaking during a no-holds-barred media chat in Abuja, Wike dismissed speculation about his ambition, instead focusing his fire on opposition rivals Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi.
“I am not running for president in 2027. Integrity matters to me. You cannot say one thing today and change tomorrow because of ambition,” Wike told journalists.
Turning to Atiku, the former vice president and PDP candidate in 2023, Wike said his criticism of Rivers State elections revealed ignorance of constitutional amendments.
“Atiku talks about Rivers elections without knowing the law. Former President Obasanjo signed the constitutional changes in 2004. He is simply frustrated,” Wike charged.
He was even more dismissive of Labour Party’s Peter Obi, whom he accused of hypocrisy and inconsistency.
“Obi calls Rivers elections rascality. But he left office in Anambra without holding elections. Ambition can make people go even to Satan’s house,” Wike said.
Wike defended the controversial Rivers local government polls held under emergency rule, noting that both the Supreme Court and Federal High Court had affirmed the legality of sole administrators acting on behalf of the President.
“Under emergency rule, governance cannot stop. Sole administrators act legally with funds released as prescribed by law,” he explained.
The FCT Minister said his remarks were not about picking fights but about correcting the record, warning that politics without integrity was meaningless.
Political analysts say Wike’s decision to rule himself out of 2027 could reshape PDP dynamics, where zoning disputes and leadership tussles remain unresolved. His direct attacks on Atiku and Obi, however, signal that he will remain a key power broker as the race heats up.
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