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🇳🇬 Nigeria /Elections & Politics

I Could Have Helped Tinubu Win Osun Election, Says Wike

From The Punch · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike stated he could have helped President Bola Tinubu win the Osun State governorship election if the president had desired it.
  • Wike, a member of the opposition PDP, suggested Tinubu deliberately allowed the election to proceed without federal government interference.
  • He also commented on the 2027 elections, predicting they would be easier for Tinubu due to a weakened opposition.

Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, has asserted that he possessed the capability to ensure President Bola Tinubu's victory in the recent Osun State governorship election had the president wished for it. Wike, who remains a prominent figure within the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), suggested that President Tinubu intentionally refrained from deploying federal might to sway the election's outcome in favor of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

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.

— Nyesom WikeThe FCT minister stated this while inspecting flood-prone areas in Maitama, Abuja, commenting on the Osun State governorship election.

Speaking while inspecting flood-prone areas in Abuja, Wike stated, “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.” This statement implies a significant political influence Wike believes he could have exerted. He further noted that the election's outcome, which saw Governor Ademola Adeleke of the Accord party declared the winner, demonstrated a lack of federal government manipulation.

There was no federal might used in Osun. When you see the force and might of the Federal Government, you will know.

— Nyesom WikeWike explained that the Osun State governorship election demonstrated the Federal Government did not use its influence to manipulate the outcome in favor of the ruling party.

"There was no federal might used in Osun. When you see the force and might of the Federal Government, you will know," Wike remarked. He also touched upon the political landscape, suggesting that Governor Adeleke might have been aligned with the APC under different circumstances. Wike, a former Rivers State governor, has maintained a supportive stance towards President Tinubu despite his PDP membership.

Ordinarily, Adeleke would have been with the APC if things had worked out well.

— Nyesom WikeThe minister suggested that the current governor of Osun State, Ademola Adeleke, might have joined the APC under different political circumstances.

Looking ahead to the 2027 general elections, Wike expressed confidence in President Tinubu's prospects. He predicted that the presidential contest in 2027 would be less challenging for Tinubu compared to the 2023 election. Wike attributed this forecast to the current state of opposition parties, describing them as "crippled, homeless, no feather."

The 2027 elections will be the easier one for the President compared to 2023.

— Nyesom WikeWike predicted that President Bola Tinubu would face a less challenging presidential election in 2027 due to the weakened state of opposition parties.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by The Punch in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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