ABUJA/Nigeria: A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, has questioned the political influence of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, following his comments on the outcome of the Osun State governorship election and his subsequent decision not to participate in the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council for the 2027 election.
Eze, a former National Publicity Secretary of the defunct New Peoples Democratic Party (nPDP), made the remarks in a statement issued on Thursday, in which he criticised Wike’s assertion that the APC could have won the Osun election had President Bola Tinubu wanted the party to secure victory “at all costs.”
Wike had made the statement on August 18 while inspecting flood-prone areas in Abuja, saying he would have gone to Osun and helped the APC win if the President had decided to deploy the full political influence of the Federal Government.
“If the President had wanted to win the Osun State election at all costs, I would have been there and we would have won it, and there’s nothing the governor can do,” Wike said.
The comment came after Governor Ademola Adeleke won the August 15 Osun governorship election, defeating the APC candidate, Bola Oyebamiji.
Eze said Wike’s statement appeared to place excessive emphasis on his personal political influence and capacity to determine electoral outcomes.
The ADC chieftain argued that the outcome of elections should principally reflect the choice of voters rather than the perceived influence of individual politicians.
He said Wike’s intervention was particularly noteworthy because the minister is not a member of the APC, although he has openly supported President Tinubu and his bid for another term in office.
Eze also linked Wike’s Osun comments to developments surrounding the APC’s 2027 Presidential Campaign Council.
The ruling party recently constituted its campaign structure, naming former Zamfara State Governor, Senator Abdulaziz Yari, as Director-General and Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, as secretary. President Tinubu and Vice-President Kashim Shettima were named chairman and vice-chairman respectively.
Wike subsequently said he would have declined the position if it had been offered to him, explaining that his priority was to help deliver Rivers State and the FCT for Tinubu rather than occupy a formal position in the campaign council.
The minister also maintained that he remains a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), despite his support for Tinubu’s re-election.
According to Wike, political support for a presidential candidate does not necessarily require membership of the candidate’s party or a formal position in the campaign organisation.
He said what would matter in 2027 was the ability of politicians to mobilise support and deliver their respective wards, local government areas and states.
Eze, however, said Wike’s comments had raised questions about the extent of his influence within the ruling party.
He criticised what he described as the minister’s tendency to project his personal political intervention as decisive in electoral contests.
The former nPDP spokesman said Wike’s Osun comment could create the impression that the election might have produced a different result if he had personally participated in the campaign.
Eze said such an impression could undermine public confidence in the democratic process, stressing that electoral legitimacy should come from voters.
He further criticised Wike’s prediction that the 2027 presidential election would be easier for President Tinubu than the 2023 contest.
Wike had argued that the opposition had become weaker and that Tinubu’s re-election bid would therefore face less resistance in 2027.
Eze said political leaders should exercise caution in their public statements, particularly when discussing the ability of individual politicians to influence electoral outcomes.
He also questioned President Tinubu’s continued relationship with Wike, arguing that some of the minister’s public comments deserved greater scrutiny.
Wike, however, has maintained that his support for Tinubu is based on his political choice and does not depend on securing a formal role within the APC campaign structure.
His spokesman, Lere Olayinka, had also previously dismissed reports that Wike was lobbying to become Director-General of Tinubu’s 2027 campaign, saying the minister did not require such a position to support the President.
Eze nevertheless urged Nigerians to pay close attention to political developments ahead of the 2027 general elections and to defend the credibility of the electoral process.
He called on voters and political stakeholders to ensure that the next general election is determined by the ballot and that political influence does not override the will of the electorate.
The ADC chieftain also expressed support for calls by groups demanding greater accountability from Wike as FCT Minister.
