Precious Nwonu, Enugu
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has stated that he would be the primary target of political retaliation from opposition figures, specifically Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi, if President Bola Tinubu fails to secure re-election in 2027.
Wike made the remarks during a live media chat in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on Wednesday, September 2, 2026, where he fiercely defended his unrelenting campaign for Tinubu’s second term despite remaining an official member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The minister has been locked in a bitter political battle with Atiku, who is now the 2027 presidential candidate for the African Democratic Congress (ADC), dating back to 2022 when Wike lost the PDP presidential ticket to him.
Meanwhile, Peter Obi, who has emerged as the 2027 presidential candidate for the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), had previously sought Wike’s support for his 2023 run on the Labour Party platform, though the minister ultimately chose to openly back Tinubu.
Acknowledging the extreme personal and political exposure that comes with his vocal stance, Wike made it clear that his loyalty to Tinubu has left him personally exposed should the President’s re-election bid fail.
“My concern is, I will support Mr President. If you watch what is happening today and look at it, peradventure anything happens and Mr President fails today, I will be the first politician that Atiku or Obi will hunt for his head. I challenge anybody. So, I won’t make that mistake of sleeping to see that the President loses the election,” Wike warned.
The minister argued that his aggressive posture against opposition figures meant that a Tinubu defeat in 2027 would not only be a loss for his coalition but would also leave him personally vulnerable to political reprisal from a new administration.
As political activities begin to gather momentum ahead of the January general elections, Wike vowed that he would not remain passive and allow Atiku to win the presidency, asking, “You want me to fold my hands for Atiku Abubakar to come and win the election?”
During the parley, Wike also dismissed widespread reports suggesting he is planning to permanently relocate to Rivers State, explaining that his frequent visits home are part of deliberate efforts to stay politically engaged with his grassroots base.
The minister argued that he has no intention of abandoning his cabinet responsibilities in Abuja, but refused to manage his political
base by proxy or rely blindly on assurances from political associates ahead of the 2027 polls.
“It’s not about relocating; it’s about coming home to relate with the people and talk to them, and also do those things you know how to do very well, not to take chances. So, I’m not relocating. I don’t need to relocate, but I also have to be in touch with my people so that I don’t just sit in Abuja and then say that everything is going on well there,” Wike explained, adding, “I don’t want to sit in Abuja, and candidates are saying, ‘Oh, don’t bother, everything is going on well’. I have to come home and see that all those things are going on. ‘Have you done this? What about this?’”
Shifting focus to his performance as FCT Minister, Wike assured that all capital projects initiated under the current administration in the nation’s capital will be fully completed before the expiration of their tenure, highlighting the infrastructure projects executed by the FCT Administration under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
“Before this tenure expires, every project started under Bola Tinubu would have been completed,” Wike vowed. He broke down the progress of 107 total capital projects initiated under the Tinubu administration in the FCT, noting that 76 projects have already been completed, 10 more projects will be inaugurated before the January elections, and the remaining 21 projects will be delivered before the end of the tenure.
“The President’s administration under Bola Tinubu commissioned 107 capital projects. We have completed 76. Before the January election, we will commission 10, and before the end of his tenure, we would have commissioned all the projects,” he stated.
Furthermore, the minister disclosed that the FCT Administration had made significant progress on legacy projects inherited from previous administrations. Specifically, he stated that 23 out of 25 projects inherited from the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari have been completed,
with work ongoing on the final two.
Additionally, his administration inherited eight projects from the administrations of former Presidents Goodluck Jonathan and Umaru Yar’Adua, successfully completing six while two remain ongoing.
“We inherited 25 projects from President Buhari and completed 23, while two are currently ongoing. We inherited eight projects from the administrations of President Jonathan and President Yar’Adua. We have completed six, while two are ongoing,” Wike detailed.
Reaffirming the commitment of the FCTA to finishing all Tinubu-initiated developments, the minister concluded by challenging his critics to compare his infrastructural record with past governments, asserting, “In the history of the FCT, no government has done what we have done in Abuja. I challenge anyone to come out.”