The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has finally addressed swirling rumours about his political future, making it clear that he will not be contesting the 2027 presidential election.
Speaking during his monthly media chat in Abuja on Monday, Wike explained that he would not stand against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, under whose administration he currently serves as FCT Minister.
The former Rivers State governor said his decision was not a product of political calculation but one rooted in loyalty and personal conviction.
He insisted that it would go against his principles to challenge the authority of Tinubu, who, according to him, gave him the opportunity to serve Nigerians at the federal level.
The PDP chieftain acknowledged that his party had zoned its presidential ticket to the South, but he maintained that zoning arrangements would not push him into the race.
“I am not in this government to fight President Tinubu,” he said. “I am here because I believe in loyalty, and I stand by what I believe.”
Wike also turned the spotlight on his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), recalling the turbulent times when it nearly collapsed under internal crises.
According to him, his commitment and sacrifices were key in sustaining the opposition party during its darkest hours.
“No political party can survive when it is consumed by internal crisis,” he warned. “If not for my efforts, PDP would have long been history.”
The minister urged PDP leaders to embrace humility and dialogue, stressing that arrogance and impunity would only deepen the cracks within the party.
He dismissed the notion that he needed to hold a governorship seat to remain relevant in Nigeria’s political space.
“I don’t need to be governor to influence events,” he declared. “My role in politics is not tied to a title but to impact.”
Wike emphasized that the survival of the PDP lies in discipline and unity, not reckless ambition, and advised stakeholders to manage the party’s challenges with wisdom.
By publicly ruling himself out of the 2027 race, Wike has ended months of speculation while sending a strong message of loyalty to Tinubu and a call for stability within the PDP.
His declaration not only reshapes the political chessboard ahead of 2027 but also positions him as a figure who values principle over ambition in a country where both often collide.
