FCT Minister Nyesom Wike has renewed his strong support for President Bola Tinubu ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 presidential election, arguing that the opposition currently lacks the strength to defeat the ruling APC.

His comments come amid growing political activity ahead of the election and a fresh dispute with ADC chieftain Dele Momodu over Governor Ademola Adeleke and the opposition’s strategy.

Wike has continued to project confidence in Tinubu’s re-election prospects as political parties prepare for the 2027 presidential contest.

In remarks reported on August 20, the FCT minister dismissed the idea that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar should be regarded as one of the leading contenders, saying Tinubu was the dominant candidate. Wike also described the 2027 contest as effectively settled because, in his view, the opposition does not currently have the capacity to wrest power from the APC.

The comments followed an earlier statement in Abuja in which Wike said Tinubu's re-election would be easier than his 2023 victory and described the opposition as significantly weakened. He was speaking after the August 15 Osun governorship election, which was won by Governor Ademola Adeleke of the Accord Party.

Wike has also clashed publicly with Dele Momodu, an ADC chieftain who has been advocating opposition cooperation around Adeleke. Momodu previously backed Adeleke despite belonging to the ADC and argued that opposition parties should work together to challenge the APC.

Wike's comments are significant because they come as the 2027 presidential campaign season gathers momentum. His assessment reflects the confidence of a senior figure supporting the incumbent administration, but it is not an official declaration of the election result.

The election remains to be conducted. INEC's revised timetable puts the presidential and National Assembly elections on January 16, 2027, while the governorship and State House of Assembly elections are scheduled for February 6, 2027.

The political strength of the opposition will therefore remain an important issue as parties build alliances, select candidates and mobilise voters.


Has the 2027 presidential election already been decided?

No. Wike's statement is a political assessment rather than an official election result. INEC has scheduled the presidential election for January 16, 2027.

Why is Wike so confident about Tinubu?

Wike has argued that the opposition is weaker than it was in 2023 and that Tinubu is currently the dominant presidential candidate. He has repeatedly defended the President's political position and rejected suggestions that recent opposition successes automatically represent setbacks for Tinubu.

What is the dispute with Dele Momodu about?

Momodu has been critical of Wike's assessment of the opposition and has supported Adeleke's political position in Osun. After Wike said he could have helped the APC win the Osun election had he been asked to intervene, Momodu described the claim as an “empty boast.”

What happened in Osun?

Adeleke won the August 15 governorship election on the Accord Party platform, defeating APC candidate Bola Oyebamiji. The result has become part of the wider political debate over the strength of the APC and opposition parties ahead of 2027.

The political battle over 2027 has intensified following the launch of presidential campaigns. Reuters reported that Tinubu's re-election bid is facing a fragmented opposition, with Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi among the major figures seeking to challenge the incumbent.

At the same time, Wike's position is particularly notable because he was a leading member of the PDP's G5 governors before the 2023 election and has since become a prominent supporter of Tinubu's administration.

His confidence contrasts with the arguments of opposition figures such as Momodu, who has called for stronger cooperation among parties seeking to challenge the APC.

Political parties and presidential contenders will continue campaigning and mobilising ahead of the January 16, 2027 presidential election.

For now, Wike's declaration that the election is effectively “gone” remains a political prediction. The actual winner will be determined by voters and formally declared through the electoral process conducted by INEC.

The 2027 presidential contest is already producing increasingly confident claims from both the ruling camp and opposition figures. Wike believes Tinubu has a clear advantage, while opposition politicians continue working to build a credible challenge before Nigerians vote.