RismadarVoice Reporters
August 18, 2026
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has expressed confidence that President Bola Tinubu will face a less difficult presidential contest in 2027 than he did in 2023.
Wike made the statement on Monday while inspecting areas affected by flooding in the Federal Capital Territory.
According to the former Rivers State governor, divisions within the opposition have significantly weakened its ability to mount a coordinated challenge against Tinubu in the next presidential election.
He argued that a serious opposition should have a stable political structure and spend years building support rather than moving between political parties ahead of elections.
Wike said the current state of the opposition had left it too fragmented to pose a credible threat to the president.
He was emphatic about Tinubu’s prospects, declaring that defeating the president in the 2027 election would be extremely difficult.
The minister also dismissed criticism from opposition figures, arguing that media appearances and political commentary would not erase what he described as the achievements of the Tinubu administration.
Wike maintained that the federal government had made significant progress during its first three years, particularly in the Federal Capital Territory, although he acknowledged that many challenges remained unresolved.
He said the administration had addressed some major problems and would continue working on others.
Wike also used the inspection tour to issue a fresh warning against buildings constructed on waterways and other areas designated for drainage.
He directed officials of the FCT Development Control Department to stop using bureaucratic procedures as an excuse to delay enforcement against structures obstructing water channels.
The minister said buildings found on waterways would be demolished regardless of the status or influence of their owners.
He stressed that the government would not suspend enforcement because of the 2027 election, insisting that development control measures must continue regardless of the political calendar.
Wike also criticised the conversion of designated green areas in Abuja into commercial parks and other developments.
He rejected attempts to justify such developments based on previous land allocations, arguing that unlawful decisions should be corrected rather than allowed to continue.
The minister said desilting and other measures would be sustained in flood-prone areas, including Lokogoma and the Yakubu Gowon Crescent axis in Asokoro.
He further appealed to residents to support the government’s flood-control efforts by disposing of waste properly and avoiding activities that could block drainage channels.
