By Elvira Jordan
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has declared that he would be among the first political casualties if President Bola Ahmed Tinubu loses the 2027 presidential election, as he reaffirmed his commitment to the President’s re-election bid.
Wike made the declaration on Wednesday, September 2, 2026, during his monthly media chat in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, where he spoke extensively on the 2027 elections, his political influence in Rivers and the Federal Capital Territory, and his continued support for the Tinubu administration.
The former Rivers State governor said he was fully aware of the political consequences of his decision to support Tinubu, insisting that he had no regrets about his position.
According to Wike, his open support for the President has made him a major target for opposition politicians ahead of the 2027 election.
“I will be the first politician that I think they will come after. I will be the first politician. I know they will come for my head,” Wike said.
Wike’s comments come as political realignments intensify ahead of the 2027 general elections, with opposition figures and political blocs positioning themselves for the presidential contest.
The FCT minister also expressed confidence in Tinubu’s chances of securing another term, arguing that the President would not face serious difficulty in the election if his political support base remained intact.
He further asserted that he retained significant political influence in both Rivers State and Abuja, dismissing the suggestion that political authority depended solely on occupying an elected executive position.
Wike described his political structure as a grassroots network capable of operating beyond formal government offices, maintaining that he remained firmly in control of his political base.
The minister also took aim at those questioning his political relevance in Rivers State, suggesting that his influence should not be measured simply by whether he currently holds an elected position in the state.
Beyond the 2027 election, Wike used the media chat to defend the performance of the Tinubu administration, particularly in the Federal Capital Territory, where he said several infrastructure projects had either been completed or were nearing completion.
Wike also challenged state governors to account for the additional revenue accruing to them following the removal of the petrol subsidy. He argued that although the Federal Government could not dictate how states and local governments spend their allocations, the public had a right to know how the additional funds were being utilised.
The minister’s media chat also touched on the recent flooding in Abuja. He disclosed that a director of the Federal Capital Development Authority had been suspended over alleged illegal approvals granted for buildings on waterways, while attributing the flooding partly to illegal construction and climate change.
