“I Won My LGA for PDP”: Wike Tackles Peter Obi and Other 6 Key Takeaways Fresh Media Chat

“I Won My LGA for PDP”: Wike Tackles Peter Obi and Other 6 Key Takeaways Fresh Media Chat

  • Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike reignited political tensions with sharp criticism of Peter Obi and the PDP’s recent zoning decisions
  • His remarks at the 102nd National Executive Council meeting challenged the party’s internal dynamics and questioned the credibility of key opposition figures
  • From emergency rule in Rivers State to the legality of local elections, Wike’s statements have stirred fresh debate ahead of the 2027 presidential race

Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike stirred political waters with his critique of former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi and the recent zoning decisions by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Speaking during the 102nd National Executive Council meeting, Wike addressed several contentious issues that have dominated Nigeria’s political discourse. Here are seven highlights from his remarks.

Wike defends Rivers State emergency rule and local government elections as PDP claims victory.
FCT Minister Wike slams Peter Obi over PDP zoning and questions his political principles. Photo credit: Peter Obi/NyesomeWike/X
Source: Facebook

Wike tackles Peter Obi over PDP return speculation

Wike openly criticised the idea of Peter Obi returning to the PDP as a presidential candidate. He questioned Obi’s credibility, citing past criticisms Obi made about the party.

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According to Wike, “If you want to destroy this party, dare to bring Obi.” He argued that Obi’s political movements were driven by ambition rather than principle, suggesting that the former governor lacked ideological consistency.

PDP zoning decision sparks controversy

The PDP’s announcement to zone its 2027 presidential candidacy to southern Nigeria made headlines and triggered widespread debate. Wike weighed in, claiming the party was “shooting itself” by failing to balance the presidential ticket with the national chairmanship.

He insisted that assigning both roles to the same region would backfire, a warning he said had already come true.

Wike questions Obi’s governance record

The FCT Minister revisited Peter Obi’s tenure as governor, alleging that doctors were on strike for 13 months and hospitals were shut down under his leadership.

Wike urged Nigerians not to take Obi’s views seriously, suggesting that both Obi and Atiku Abubakar were motivated by financial interests that were no longer accessible in Rivers State.

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Emergency rule in Rivers State explained

Wike defended the emergency rule declared in Rivers State, citing the Emergency Powers Act of 2004 signed by former President Olusegun Obasanjo. He clarified that the emergency rule applied only to the state government and assembly, not the local government areas.

According to Wike, the Supreme Court had invalidated the previous local government setup, necessitating the emergency measures to access federal funds.

Local government elections in Rivers State deemed legal

Despite the emergency rule, Wike affirmed the legality of the recent local government elections held on 30 August 2025. Residents across all 23 LGAs participated, and winners were issued certificates of return by the Rivers State Electoral Commission. Wike noted that PDP secured victories in key areas including Obio/Akpor, Port Harcourt, and Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni.

Wike accuses political actors of hypocrisy

The minister accused the same individuals who encouraged former President Goodluck Jonathan to run in 2027 of betraying him in 2015. He also challenged critics who accused him of wearing a political “mask,” asking rhetorically, “If people say Wike wears a mask, what do they wear?”

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Peaceful election claimed as historic

Wike celebrated the peaceful conduct of the Rivers State local government elections, claiming it was the first in Nigeria’s history without gunshots, hijacking of materials, or post-election disputes.

He urged observers to focus on whether residents were satisfied with the results and whether PDP contested in areas won by the APC.

Nyesom Wike tackles 2027 presidential race, zoning controversy, and Obi’s ambition.
Nyesom Wike tackles 2027 presidential race, zoning controversy, and Obi’s ambition. Photo credit: NWike/X
Source: Facebook

Wike dares Amaechi ahead of 2027

Legit.ng earlier reported that Nyesom Wike, the minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has criticised the former minister of transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, over his alliance with the African Democratic Congress (ADC) coalition to unseat President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2027 election.

Legit.ng reported that Rotimi Amaechi, who served under the administration of Muhammadu Buhari, disclosed that he was ready to be a one-term president, if given the chance under the coalition movement, which is led by the former vice president Atiku Abubakar.

Source: Legit.ng

Authors:
Basit Jamiu avatar

Basit Jamiu (Current Affairs and Politics Editor) Basit Jamiu is a journalist with more than five years of experience. He is a current affairs and politics editor at Legit.ng. He holds a bachelor's degree from Ekiti State University (2018). Basit previously worked as a staff writer at Ikeja Bird (2022), Associate Editor at Prime Progress (2022), and Staff Writer at The Movee (2018). He is a 2024 Open Climate Fellow (West Africa), 2023 MTN Media Fellow, OCRP Fellow at ICIR, and Accountability Fellow at CJID. Email: basit.jamiu@corp.legit.ng.