By Opeyemi Adelakun
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has rejected claims by Peter Obi and supporters of the Labour Party that they won the 2023 presidential election in Rivers State, insisting that no such victory was officially declared.
Wike made the remarks during an appearance on TVC’s Journalists Hangout programme on Monday, where he argued that election results must be established through polling-unit figures and declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
“They won in their imagination,” he said, questioning whether enthusiastic receptions at campaign venues could be taken as proof of electoral victory.
The minister also dismissed claims based on results from selected polling units, noting that Rivers has more than 7,000 polling units across its 23 local government areas.
He said isolated results could not establish who won the state-wide contest before all results were collated and officially declared.
Wike further challenged Obi and former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, the Peoples Democratic Party’s candidate in the 2023 election, to demonstrate that they had proved their claims at the election tribunal.
Turning to the 2027 general election, Wike expressed confidence in his political position in Rivers, saying he expected the coming contest to be easier than previous elections.
He recalled his political journey, which began as a local government chairman in 1999, and cited the 2015 and 2019 elections as contests he had won despite what he described as significant challenges.
Wike also disclosed that his late brother, Herbert Wigwe, had advised him to leave the state ahead of the 2019 election because of federal pressure. He said he declined the advice and remained in Rivers.
The minister maintained that his political influence was based on his record and relationship with the people, rather than federal support or political alliances.
He challenged his opponents to explain what they would offer Rivers residents that would make them consider a change in leadership.
“What will you present to them that will make them believe that following you will be more beneficial than what they have today?” he asked.
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