FCT Minister Nyesom Wike has said his role in the political contest ahead of the 2027 general elections is to keep opposition leaders under pressure and prevent them from becoming comfortable.
Wike made the remarks on Friday while speaking to journalists during an inspection of ongoing infrastructure projects in Abuja.
Commenting on the state of Nigeria’s opposition parties, the minister said the crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party had weakened the opposition and made it difficult to identify a dominant party capable of mounting a strong challenge.
He said the PDP would ordinarily have been regarded as the leading opposition party, but its internal crisis had affected its ability to play that role effectively.
Wike said, “I don’t want them to feel well. It’s not my wish that they should feel well. Your business is to make sure you beat him thoroughly. So that he will be sick all through. And that’s what we are doing to them.”
The minister, a former governor of Rivers State and a member of the PDP, has remained involved in the party’s internal political disputes and has frequently clashed with prominent opposition figures.
He also dismissed concerns about how former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, were responding to the unfolding political developments.
Wike said their reactions did not concern him, adding that he would be prepared to intensify the political pressure if he knew they were unhappy with the situation.
“So how Atiku feels, how Obi feels, it does not give any headache. If I know how they feel now, I will add more crisis for them,” he said.
His comments come as political realignments and negotiations intensify ahead of the 2027 general elections.
