Olushola Omogbehin
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr. Nyesom Wike, has disclosed that the coast is clear for the re-election of President Bola Tinubu in 2027 as he dismissed opposition parties as incapable of forming a formidable coalition to stop him.
He said this while speaking to journalists yesterday after the inspection of projects in Abuja.
Mocking opposition parties over internal challenges, he disclosed that public admissions recently by key opposition figures have vindicated his long-standing position that their structures were inherently compromised.
“They all gathered and said, this government is not doing well. We are the face of the new people; we are the ones that will give the people the change that they require.
“They also claimed they wanted to make life better, however, recent statements from Babachir Lawal regarding internal manipulation and ‘rigging machines’ within the opposition proved that their grand alliance had collapsed before even starting,”
Lawal, former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, on Monday, dumped the African Democratic Congress (ADC) over alleged rigged primary elections. He alleged that the party’s presidential primary election was rigged in favour of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.
Speaking about ADC, Wike said “I said it in the morning, if you are a politician, you will understand that the structure was set for Abubakar. There is no need to worry yourself to say you want to participate as a coalition party. There is no coalition.”
He said dissenting voices coming from within the opposition’s own ranks show that “things are really very bad in their so-called mushroom political parties.”
“So, we are happy. You can see the coast is very clear for the President to be re-elected in 2027,” he said.
According to Wike during his monthly media briefing, he said controversies that trailed congresses and primary elections in some opposition parties revealed a sharp contrast between their public rhetoric and internal practice.
“They told Nigerians they were the new face of democracy and the alternative platform for change. But what we have seen is that even within their own structures, there are allegations of irregularities and protests over congresses and primaries.
“My assessment is that the parties that have been tested over time understand the complexities of Nigeria’s political culture and democratic process.”
