Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, says the All Progressives Congress (APC) could have won the recent Osun governorship election if President Bola Tinubu had been determined to secure victory “at all costs.”
Wike made the claim on Tuesday, August 18, while speaking with journalists during an inspection of flood-prone areas in Maitama, Abuja.
The minister was responding to questions about the outcome of the August 15 Osun governorship election, which was won by Governor Ademola Adeleke of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Wike, who remains a PDP member despite his prominent support for the Tinubu administration, suggested that a stronger political push by the President would have changed the outcome of the poll.
He said, “If the President had wanted to win the Osun State election at all costs, I would have been there and we would have won it, and there’s nothing the governor can do.”
Adeleke was declared winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), defeating APC candidate Bola Oyebamiji.
READ ALSO: 2027: Wike Denies Lobbying For APC Campaign Council DG Role
Wike’s comment comes amid continued political interest in his position within the PDP and his relationship with the APC-led federal government.
The former Rivers State governor was one of the five PDP governors who formed the G5 ahead of the 2023 presidential election and opposed the party’s decision to retain the presidential ticket in the North.
Despite remaining in the PDP, Wike has continued to publicly support Tinubu and has defended aspects of the administration’s policies since his appointment as FCT minister.
His latest remarks highlight the unusual political position he has maintained, holding a ministerial position under an APC-led government while retaining his membership of the opposition PDP.
Wike has repeatedly maintained that his support for Tinubu does not mean he has abandoned the PDP, even as his political alignment with the President continues to generate debate within his party.