The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has vehemently denied recent media reports suggesting that a faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is attempting to “push” him to contest the presidency in the 2027 general elections.
In a statement issued on Friday by his media aide, Lere Olayinka, the Minister described the reports as “another lie from idle minds who have nothing to contribute to the development of the country,” dismissing the speculation as “kindergarten tactics.”
Wike used the statement to reiterate his current political allegiance and commitment, asserting that he stands fully behind President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“The Minister has made it clear where he stands as long as the 2027 Presidential election is concerned, he is with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. He has said it clearly that from now till 2031, it is on the mandate of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu that he will stand,” the statement read.
Emphasizing his style of transparent leadership, Wike boasted that he “does what he says, and says what he does,” assuring the public that he does not “function in hiding.”
Clarification on PDP Stakeholders Meeting
The Minister’s aide also moved to clarify the actual purpose of a meeting held on August 20, 2025, which may have been misconstrued in the media reports.
Olayinka explained that the meeting, which involved PDP stakeholders from the southern part of Nigeria, was convened solely to discuss the need to counter a planned gathering in Lagos on August 21, 2025. This Lagos meeting, he noted, was allegedly aimed at rubber-stamping a micro-zoning decision for party positions allotted to the South.
The outcome of the August 20 meeting, which rejected the Lagos summit, was made public via a press statement titled, ‘Re: Purported Meeting Of PDP Southern Zoning Consultative Summit.’ Signatories included State Party Chairmen of Imo, Abia, Cross River, Akwa Ibom and Rivers, alongside the National Vice Chairman (South-East), Hon. Chidiebere Egwu Goodluck and the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Hon O. K. Chinda, among other key figures.
The statement concluded by noting that those propagating the idle plots using online platforms would be disappointed, as the FCT Minister’s character and intentions are well-known
