FCT Minister Nyesom Wike has clarified his decision not to support Labour Party’s Peter Obi in the 2023 presidential elections, stating he didn’t believe Obi had a realistic chance of winning and labeled him a “social media candidate.”
[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has publicly explained his reasons for not supporting the Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, during the 2023 general elections.
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Speaking at a press briefing held in Abuja on Friday, Wike asserted that he did not believe Obi possessed a genuine prospect of winning the presidential contest, describing him as predominantly a “social media candidate.”
“No, he has no chance to win election,” Wike stated emphatically. “I don’t go to where you see people like this kind of social media candidates. I don’t do social media candidate.”
Wike, a former governor of Rivers State and a prominent figure within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), emphasized that his approach as a seasoned politician involves a keen analysis of candidates based on their actual capacity to secure victory, rather than relying on perceptions of online popularity.
“I said I see that as a politician, and I analyse the candidate who is likely to win,” he explained.
According to the FCT Minister, winning elections in Nigeria transcends mere qualifications or popularity on social media platforms, highlighting the complex dynamics of the country’s political landscape.
“In politics, it’s not always the right that oh, this is the best candidate. No, no, no,” Wike elaborated. “You see Nigerians today, in politics, so many factors come in.”
“No, he has no chance to win election. I don’t go to where you see people like this kind of social media candidates. I don’t do social media candidate,” said FCT Minister Nyesom Wike.
He also alluded to the challenging circumstances surrounding the 2023 elections, specifically mentioning the disruptive naira redesign policy and widespread fuel scarcity, which he believed created a highly volatile environment.
“It was very very turbulent for Tinubu to get to that election,” Wike noted. “It is one party administration. You could see people don’t want to speak the truth before that election.”
Wike commended the eventual winner of the election, President Bola Tinubu, for his ability to navigate the significant hurdles posed by the then-administration’s policies.
“No party in government would at that time bring some policy when you know you’re running an election,” he observed. “But everything was done and he survived. He survived it.”
In conclusion, Wike acknowledged the considerable political experience and strategic acumen that ultimately contributed to President Tinubu’s victory in the keenly contested election.
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“So that’s how you know that there are people, first of all, God is on their side. Two, they also know this game. You must give it to them,” he stated.
