Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
In a statement that has sent ripples through Nigeria’s political landscape, Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and former governor of Rivers State, has been reported to make highly charged remarks suggesting he holds critical information about the 2023 presidential election and threatening to expose it publicly. The comments come amid rising tensions within the All Progressives Congress (APC) and increasing scrutiny of Wike’s role in post-election politics.
According to the widely circulated assertion, Wike declared, “I will tell the world who truly won the 2023 presidential election. Peter Obi should be ready to forgive me, because I will break the APC into pieces. I founded the APC with the blood of Nigerians. I made Tinubu president using money from Rivers State. I am a big fish and I cannot go down easily,” attributing Nigeria’s presidential outcome to his political manoeuvring.
While the exact remarks as quoted have not been independently verified or published by major national news platforms, they reflect the broader political climate surrounding Wike’s ongoing power struggles and his fraught relationship with segments of the APC leadership. Wike has increasingly positioned himself as a kingmaker figure whose influence—in both opposition and ruling party circles—remains a topic of intense debate.
Political observers note that Wike’s prominence peaked during the 2023 general elections, when he broke ranks with his former party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and staked his political support behind President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the APC. While he never formally joined the APC at the time, his backing was widely seen as instrumental in shoring up support for Tinubu in key regions, especially in the South-South, where Wike’s political machinery carried significant weight. Wike himself has defended his decision, saying he judged Tinubu to be the candidate with the best chance to win and lead Nigeria forward — a stance he reiterated on several occasions.
However, Wike’s relationship with the APC has cooled considerably since his appointment as FCT minister, amid reports of marginalisation and internal party clashes. A broad cross-section of APC leaders have publicly urged President Tinubu to remove Wike from his ministerial post, accusing him of anti-party conduct, undermining party unity and instigating political instability — particularly in Rivers State, where Wike’s influence has fueled power struggles and legislative fractures.
In statements to party administrators and supporters, Wike has forcefully defended his actions within the APC-led government, insisting that critics should “leave Rivers alone” and warning against interference in state politics. He has also rejected assertions that he is an APC member without party card rights, even while asserting his strategic importance in national and regional political calculations.
The alleged threat to expose what he describes as the “truth” about the 2023 presidential election — including naming purported winners and implying that financial support from Rivers State facilitated President Tinubu’s ascent — taps into enduring debates about Nigeria’s electoral credibility. Since 2023, segments of the electorate and civil society actors have questioned the integrity of the polls, especially in the context of influential regional figures like Wike, whose endorsements carried weight across political divides.
Critics of Wike argue that his recent rhetoric could deepen political fractures and erode public confidence in democratic processes at a time when the APC is already grappling with internal dissent and defections. A coalition of APC figures has publicly criticised his alleged inflammatory statements, warning that they could destabilise the party and potentially weaken its electoral standing ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Supporters of Wike, on the other hand, portray him as a seasoned political strategist who has been unfairly sidelined and whose influence remains indispensable to the ruling party’s success, particularly in regions historically dominated by opposition forces. They view his bold claims as reflective of long-standing dissatisfaction with his treatment within the APC hierarchy rather than personal grandstanding.
Analysts say that regardless of their accuracy, such statements are likely to further complicate Nigeria’s already vibrant political discourse, especially as the nation approaches subsequent electoral cycles. They underscore underlying tensions between old party alliances, emergent political coalitions, and the evolving role of individual power brokers like Wike.
At present, neither Wike nor official representatives of the APC have issued full transcripts or authenticated versions of the quoted remarks. Political commentators caution that in an era of rampant misinformation and politicised narratives, it is critical to verify sensitive claims — particularly around electoral legitimacy — before drawing firm conclusions about their implications for national politics.
What is clear, however, is that Nyesom Wike remains at the centre of a high-stakes political narrative — one that intersects debates over party loyalty, regional power dynamics, and the enduring question of how Nigeria’s electoral outcomes are perceived both domestically and internationally.
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