Wike warns Atiku, Obi could target him if Tinubu loses in 2027, saying he remains firmly committed to the President’s re-election bid
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, said in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on Wednesday, September 2, 2026, that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Labour Party figure Peter Obi could come after him politically if President Bola Tinubu loses the 2027 presidential election.
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Wike, speaking during a media parley, said he regarded himself as one of the politicians most exposed to the consequences of a Tinubu defeat because of his outspoken support for the President and his opposition to some of his political rivals.
The former Rivers State governor said he had no regrets about backing Tinubu and understood the potential political cost of the position he had taken.
“I will be the first politician that I think they will come after. I will be the first politician. I know they will come for my head,” Wike said.
The minister’s comments underline the increasingly personal stakes surrounding the political realignments ahead of the 2027 election, particularly as opposition figures and parties continue to reposition themselves for the contest.
Wike has remained one of Tinubu’s most vocal supporters outside the ruling All Progressives Congress, despite retaining his membership of the Peoples Democratic Party.
His relationship with the PDP has become increasingly complicated since the 2023 presidential election, when Wike and four other governors, known collectively as the G5, opposed the party’s presidential campaign structure and called for greater adherence to its power-sharing principles.
The political fallout from that period continues to shape alliances ahead of 2027.
Atiku, who was the PDP’s presidential candidate in 2023, is now associated with the African Democratic Congress, while Obi has aligned with the opposition movement around the National Democratic Congress.
Wike has repeatedly argued that his decision to support Tinubu is based on political calculations and what he considers the President’s record in office rather than personal considerations.
During Wednesday’s parley, he said his attention remained firmly fixed on securing another term for Tinubu.
“Each day I sleep, I am thinking about the President’s reelection. When I am eating, I think about the President’s reelection. Everything I am doing now is about the President’s reelection,” Wike said.
His remarks come as the opposition landscape continues to evolve, with political figures seeking alliances capable of mounting a credible challenge to the incumbent in 2027.
Wike also acknowledged that his position had attracted considerable criticism.
He said the attacks had not weakened his resolve, arguing that he had endured substantial political pressure because of his support for Tinubu.
For Wike, the calculation appears straightforward: a Tinubu victory would vindicate the political path he has chosen, while a defeat could expose him to a fresh round of political confrontation.
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The comments add another revealing dimension to the increasingly consequential battle over Nigeria’s presidency, where alliances formed ahead of the election could prove as important as the strength of individual candidates.
