The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has dismissed reports suggesting he is nursing a presidential ambition ahead of the 2027 general elections, describing them as baseless fabrications from “idle minds.”
The former Rivers State governor made his position known in a statement on Saturday, issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka, who said the rumours were the handiwork of political detractors bent on creating unnecessary controversy.
According to Olayinka, “The claim that the Minister is being pressured by some leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to contest the 2027 presidential election is another lie from idle minds who have nothing to contribute to the country’s development.”
He clarified that Wike’s loyalty remains firmly with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, adding that the FCT Minister has repeatedly declared his support for the President’s leadership and re-election bid in 2027.
“The Minister has made it clear where he stands as far as the 2027 presidential election is concerned — he is with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” the statement read.
“Wike does not operate in the shadows. He is known for his straightforwardness — he says what he means and means what he says. It is shameful that the ‘pull-Wike-down’ elements could not think beyond such childish antics. They clearly need better brains to think for them.”
Olayinka also addressed claims surrounding a supposed PDP meeting, noting that the only meeting held on August 20, 2025, involved PDP stakeholders from the southern region of the country — not a secret political gathering to plot Wike’s supposed 2027 bid.
He explained that the meeting’s purpose was to discuss the zoning of party positions ahead of a follow-up session scheduled for Lagos on August 21, 2025. The outcome, he said, was transparently released in a public communiqué titled “Re: Purported Meeting of PDP Southern Zoning Consultative Summit.”
The statement, signed by key PDP leaders including state party chairmen, lawmakers, and former officials from the South-East and South-South, was widely published across major newspapers and broadcast on national television.
Signatories included Austin Nwachukwu (Imo), Abraham Amah (Abia), Barr. Venatius Ikem (Cross River), Rt. Hon. Aniekan Akpan (Akwa Ibom), and Aaron Chukwuemeka (Rivers); as well as Hon. Chidiebere Egwu Goodluck, PDP National Vice Chairman (South-East), and Hon. O.K. Chinda, Minority Leader of the House of Representatives.
Other signatories were Senators Igwe Nwagu, Mao Ohuabunwa, George Sekibo, Mike Ama Nnachi, former National Secretary Rt. Hon. Onwe S. Onwe, Deputy National Legal Adviser Barr. Okechukwu Osuoha, and former Ebonyi State Legal Adviser Barr. Mudi Erhenede, among others.
Olayinka stressed that the list of names and details of the meeting were publicly available and not evidence of any clandestine political manoeuvre.
“We know their intention, but unfortunately for them — and the platform being used to spread their idle plots — the person and character of the FCT Minister is well known. He does nothing in hiding,” he said.
Reaffirming Wike’s stance, Olayinka added that the Minister remains fully committed to President Tinubu’s political and developmental agenda, stating:
“He has made it clear that from now until 2031, he stands firmly on the mandate of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.”
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