Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike has expressed confidence in President Bola Tinubu’s re-election prospects, stating his willingness to “bet” on the incumbent’s victory in the 2027 presidential poll.
Wike’s assurance came in response to a prediction made by a former Kaduna State governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, who forecast a poor showing for the incumbent.
Speaking during a media chat in Abuja, Wike dismissed El-Rufai’s calculations as fundamentally flawed.
“I can place a bet with confidence that President Bola Tinubu will win the 2027 presidential election,” the FCT minister stated.
He further questioned El-Rufai’s projection, asking, “I heard someone say Mr. President will come third in 2027. I don’t know the maths he used. But my concern is, if he (Tinubu) will come third, who will come first and second?”
El-Rufai, in an interview with Channels Television the previous day, had painted a grim picture for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 presidential election.
“Tinubu will be third in the 2027 election. I have done my maths, and I can tell you Tinubu has no pathway to win. The worst-case scenario is that there will not be any winner in the first ballot,” the former governor had said.
The former Kaduna governor, while justifying his stance, challenged Nigerians to assess the administration’s performance.
“Is your life better now under President Tinubu? There is even no pretense of good intentions. We are free to assess our government after two weeks,” he said.
However, Wike said the political landscape has shifted significantly since the 2023 elections, minimising potential threats.
He specifically downplayed the influence of the Labour Party’s Peter Obi, who secured over six (6) million votes in that election.
“Let me tell you, in 2027, Peter Obi will not be a threat to President Tinubu. I know what I am saying. Peter Obi had over six million votes in 2023, but the political dynamics will be different in 2027,” Wike said.
