By Sandra Kenneth
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has asserted that he possessed the political muscle to deliver victory for the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the Osun State governorship election, provided President Bola Tinubu had sought to secure the state “at all costs.”
Wike made the remarks on Tuesday during an inspection tour of flood-prone areas in Maitama, Abuja.
According to the minister—who remains a chieftain of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) while serving in President Tinubu’s cabinet—the outcome of the poll demonstrated that the President intentionally refrained from deploying the influence of the Federal Government to swing the outcome in favor of the ruling party.
“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.
He noted that the non-interference of the Presidency highlights a commitment to allowing electoral processes to proceed without federal influence.
“There was no federal might used in Osun. When you see the force and might of the Federal Government, you will know,” Wike added.
Commenting on political dynamics within the state, the FCT minister suggested that Governor Ademola Adeleke might have aligned with the ruling party under different circumstances, stating, “Ordinarily, Adeleke would have been with the APC if things had worked out well.”
Looking ahead to the next general election cycle, the former Rivers State governor predicted a smoother reelection campaign for the President, citing the current political standing of the main opposition parties.
“The 2027 elections will be the easier one for the President compared to 2023,” Wike claimed. “This time around, the opposition has been crippled, homeless, no feather.”
