The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has refuted media claims that some leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are urging him to contest the 2027 presidential election.
In a statement issued on Saturday by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka, the minister dismissed the reports as fabrications by individuals seeking to create unnecessary political tension.
“Report circulated by an online platform that is notorious for falsehood and blackmail that a meeting was held by some leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to ‘push’ the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, to run for President in 2027, has been described as ‘another lie from idle minds who have nothing to contribute to the development of the country,’” the statement read.
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Olayinka reaffirmed Wike’s loyalty to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, emphasizing that his political alignment remains unchanged.
“As far as Wike is concerned, it is President Bola Ahmed Tinubu till 2031,” he stressed.
He further described the online publication as a “cheap attempt” by political detractors to malign the minister’s reputation.
“Wike does not function in hiding. He does what he says and says what he does. It is shameful that the ‘pull-Wike-down’ elements could not reason beyond such kindergarten tactics. It is clear that they need better brains to think for them,” Olayinka said.
He clarified that the only PDP meeting held on August 20, 2025, was a Southern stakeholders’ session convened to discuss internal zoning matters, not a presidential bid.
“The only meeting that took place on August 20, 2025, was that of PDP stakeholders from Southern part of Nigeria, and the purpose was the meeting scheduled for Lagos on August 21, 2025, by some elements to rubberstamp a decision to micro-zone party positions zoned to the South,” the statement noted.
The statement listed those who signed the related communiqué, including PDP state chairmen from Imo, Abia, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, and Rivers; National Vice Chairman (South-East) Hon. Chidiebere Egwu Goodluck; and Minority Leader of the House of Representatives Hon. O. K. Chinda, among others.
“Outcome of the meeting was made public via a press statement titled; ‘Re: Purported Meeting Of PDP Southern Zoning Consultative Summit,’ signed by State Party Chairmen… Obviously, the above names were picked from the press statement published in all major newspapers and aired on national television stations to advance the latest mischief,” Olayinka stated.
He reiterated that Wike’s commitment remains steadfast to the Tinubu administration and its Renewed Hope Agenda.
“He has said it clearly that from now till 2031, it is on the mandate of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu that he will stand.”
According to Olayinka, Wike remains focused on executing the President’s infrastructural and developmental agenda for the FCT.
“To ensure the success of the President’s re-election, Wike will continue to deliver on the Renewed Hope Agenda in the FCT by actualising the visions of the President for a federal capital city that can compete with other capital cities in the world in terms of infrastructural development,” he added.