“Abuja Is Peter Obi” Fayose Fires Back at Wike Ahead of 2027

“Abuja Is Peter Obi” Fayose Fires Back at Wike Ahead of 2027

The battle for political influence in Abuja is beginning to take shape ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

Businessman and social commentator Isaac Fayose has challenged FCT Minister Nyesom Wike’s assessment of the opposition’s strength in the capital.

Fayose declared that Abuja remained firmly behind Peter Obi, insisting that the former Anambra State governor would win the Federal Capital Territory if the presidential election were held in 2027.

“Abuja is NDC. Abuja is Peter Obi,” Fayose declared during an appearance on News Central TV on Tuesday.

His remarks followed Wike’s recent comments that the opposition would struggle to defeat President Bola Tinubu in Abuja during the 2027 presidential contest.

Wike has repeatedly spoken about the strength of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, while questioning the ability of opposition parties to mount an effective challenge against Tinubu in the next election.

The disagreement comes against the backdrop of growing political activity ahead of 2027, with parties and political actors already positioning themselves for the presidential contest.

Fayose, however, dismissed Wike’s assessment and argued that the mood among voters in Abuja was favourable to Obi and the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC.

He also expressed concern about the possibility of voter suppression or manipulation of electoral results, saying the opposition was working on ways to protect its votes during the election.

“People are ready to vote. All we are scared of now is what angle are they going to suppress us from this time?” he said.

Fayose urged Nigerians to gauge public opinion by speaking directly with voters rather than relying entirely on statements from political leaders.

“Go to the street and try to talk to one or two people. Ask them, ‘Who are you going to vote for?’” he said.

He also argued that Nigeria should make greater use of opinion polling and mock elections to understand voters’ preferences before major elections.

The Federal Capital Territory has become an important reference point in discussions about Obi’s political support since the 2023 presidential election.

In that election, Obi, who contested under the Labour Party, won the FCT with 281,717 votes.

Tinubu of the APC polled 90,902 votes, while Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party recorded 74,199 votes, according to INEC’s official results.

That result has continued to feature prominently in arguments over the political direction of Abuja ahead of 2027.

However, the political landscape has since changed, and the 2027 election is still months away. Fayose’s assertion that Obi will win the FCT therefore remains a political prediction, not an established electoral outcome.

The exchange nevertheless highlights the emerging contest over Abuja, as Wike and opposition figures such as Fayose offer sharply different assessments of the capital’s political mood ahead of the next presidential election.