Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has disclosed that all his children supported Peter Obi during the 2023 presidential election, but attributed their decision to the controversy surrounding the All Progressives Congress (APC) Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket at the time.
Wike made the disclosure on Monday during an interview on TVC News, while discussing the political circumstances surrounding the 2023 election and the 2027 presidential contest.
The former Rivers State governor said the same-faith ticket became a major issue during the 2023 campaign, particularly amid concerns raised by some Christian groups and voters.
“In 2023, there was a problem with the Muslim-Muslim ticket. There was this campaign about Christianity.
“All my children supported Peter Obi. But now, they are saying that they never knew this man, Peter Obi, was like this.
“There are a lot of people who were carried away, but that is no longer there now. Tinubu has been able to kill the Muslim-Muslim ticket problem,” Wike said.
Wike argued that the political circumstances surrounding the 2023 election had changed, including what he described as a reduction in the influence of the Muslim-Muslim ticket controversy.
His comments came a day after he disclosed how he and other members of the former PDP G-5 governors allegedly worked against Atiku Abubakar’s chances in parts of the South-South during the 2023 election, while deliberately preventing Obi from winning Rivers State.
Wike, who has publicly declared his support for President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid, also dismissed Obi’s prospects in the next presidential election.
The FCT minister maintained that the political conditions that contributed to Obi’s performance in 2023 no longer exist in the same form, and insisted that Obi cannot win the 2027 presidential election.
Obi is currently the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) for the 2027 election, while Tinubu is the presidential candidate of the APC. INEC has confirmed both candidates among those contesting the presidential election scheduled for January 16, 2027.
Wike’s latest remarks add to his recent public criticism of Obi and his continued advocacy for Tinubu ahead of the 2027 polls.
