Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has dismissed the political momentum behind former Anambra State governor Peter Obi ahead of the 2027 presidential election. Wike said the “Obi wave” that helped drive Obi’s 2023 campaign no longer exists and accused the Nigeria Democratic Congress candidate of having nothing new to offer Nigerian
Wike made the remarks on Thursday during his monthly media chat in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. He questioned the strength of the NDC’s presidential ticket, which features Obi as candidate and former Kano State governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso as running mate.
“All this so-called Obi kererenke doesn’t exist again. I have killed it,” the minister said. He argued that the political conditions that enabled Obi to attract broad support in 2023 had changed, adding that Nigerians now know Obi “has nothing to offer.
Wike also described Obi as a “dramatist” and referred to comments by Anambra State Governor Chukwuma Soludo as evidence of the former governor’s weaknesses. He suggested that Obi no longer commands the level of financial backing and popular enthusiasm that characterised his previous campaign.
“The Obi wave is dead and buried. How many people are contributing money for Obi today?” Wike asked
The FCT minister also criticised former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, the African Democratic Congress presidential candidate. He said Nigerians had already given Atiku and other established politicians opportunities to govern but had not seen meaningful results.
“Nigerians know that Atiku and co have been given the opportunity, but they did not do anything. Nigerians know that the former governor of Rivers State looted our state,” Wike said.
While acknowledging Kwankwaso’s popularity, Wike questioned whether the former Kano governor’s influence could extend beyond his home state. He noted that Kwankwaso won Kano in the 2023 presidential election but asked how he would perform in other northern states, including those in the North-Central region.
Wike’s comments add to the growing political tension ahead of the 2027 election, as opposition figures and the ruling party begin positioning themselves for the contest. His remarks are likely to draw a response from Obi’s supporters, who have continued to portray him as a major challenger to the political establishment.