Wike Continue To Criticize Peter Obi's Democratic Credentials, Questions His Presidential Ambition and Coalition Support

 

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has launched a scathing critique of former Anambra State Governor and 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi. The minister questioned Obi's democratic credentials and dismissed his recent criticisms of Nigeria’s democratic system as hypocritical and unfounded.

Speaking on Sunday at a church service held at the Anglican Church in Asokoro, Abuja, Wike addressed members of the congregation and the media in attendance. His comments were direct, reflecting growing political tensions as opposition figures begin early mobilization ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Wike accused Obi of failing to uphold democratic practices during his time as governor, alleging that Obi did not conduct a single local government election throughout his eight years in office. The former Rivers State governor argued that such a record disqualifies Obi from presenting himself as a defender or reformer of democracy.

“You say Peter Obi will be president; president where?” Wike queried, sparking murmurs from the crowd. “For eight years, he was governor; he never conducted local government elections. Eight good years. That one was democracy?” he asked rhetorically.

The FCT minister suggested that Obi operated as both governor and de facto local government chairman, monopolizing political power without empowering grassroots democratic structures. According to Wike, that governance style contradicts the very principles of democracy Obi now claims to defend.

This attack comes amid a growing coalition of opposition parties, including the Labour Party and the African Democratic Congress (ADC), positioning themselves to challenge President Bola Tinubu’s administration in 2027. Wike expressed skepticism toward the coalition’s motives, describing it as nothing more than an emotional reaction lacking political substance.

“Let’s tell ourselves the simple truth. Some of you have sympathy for who you don’t know out of emotion,” he stated. “Now they will come out and begin to talk, democracy is not working. But it worked under you alone, being governor and chairman of local governments. Only one man. The time has passed. They won’t have that opportunity again.”

Wike’s comments appear to be part of a broader narrative seeking to undermine Obi’s standing as a leading opposition voice. While the former governor enjoys significant support among Nigerian youth and urban voters, particularly due to his performance in the 2023 presidential election, his past as a state governor is increasingly being scrutinized by his critics.

Peter Obi, responding to the allegations, clarified that his inability to conduct local government elections in Anambra was not due to personal choice but rather legal obstacles. According to him, “As Anambra governor, I was prevented by arms of legal and litigation from conducting local government elections for over six years in the state.”

This explanation has been a point of contention for years, with critics arguing that a more aggressive legal approach could have resolved the issues earlier. Supporters, on the other hand, view it as a systemic problem that affected many governors during that era, not just Obi.

Political observers say Wike’s criticisms are part of a calculated strategy to realign political forces ahead of the next election cycle. Wike, once a leading figure in the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has since become a key ally of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) following the 2023 elections.

His position as FCT minister, a high-profile federal appointment, has given him a significant platform to comment on national politics. In recent months, he has used this platform to call out opposition leaders, including those he once worked with.

The verbal exchange between Wike and Obi reflects the early rumblings of what is shaping up to be a fierce and highly competitive 2027 election season. With coalitions forming and political narratives being tested in the court of public opinion, both camps are sharpening their messaging and trying to define the terms of the coming political battle.

As the dust settles on the 2023 election, the road to 2027 is already becoming a terrain of sharp rhetoric, renewed alliances, and deeper ideological clashes. Wike’s remarks may have reignited debate, but they also signal a long and winding political season ahead.