The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has offered insight into his reasons for not supporting Labour Party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, during the 2023 general elections.
Speaking to journalists in Abuja on Friday, Wike said he didn’t consider Obi a serious contender, describing him as someone whose campaign thrived mostly on social media rather than on-ground political structure.
“I knew he had no realistic path to victory,” Wike stated. “I don’t throw my weight behind candidates who only trend on social media. That’s not how elections are won.”
The former Rivers State governor explained that his political choices are guided by practical analysis rather than public sentiment.
He emphasised that electoral success in Nigeria requires more than being popular online.
“As a politician, I study the landscape and support candidates who have the ability to win,” he added. “Nigerian elections involve multiple factors—qualifications alone aren’t enough.”
Wike also touched on the challenges that shaped the 2023 polls, including the cash scarcity caused by the naira redesign and widespread fuel shortages. He noted that these issues made the electoral process even tougher for the ruling party.
“It wasn’t easy for Tinubu,” Wike said. “It’s unusual for a party in power to implement policies that could hurt its chances, yet those policies were introduced.”
Despite the difficulties, he commended President Bola Tinubu for weathering the storm and emerging victorious, attributing the win to a combination of divine backing and political expertise.
“Some people are simply experienced and understand how politics works,” he said. “Tinubu knew the game, and God was also on his side.”