Wike Vows to Give Atiku, Other 2027 Opposition Candidates ‘High Blood Pressure’

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has vowed to make things difficult for former Vice President and African Democratic Congress, ADC, presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar and other opposition candidates ahead of the 2027 general election.

Wike made the statement on Friday in Abuja while speaking with journalists during an inspection of infrastructure projects across the Federal Capital Territory.

The former Rivers State governor also dismissed the idea that Nigeria currently has a dominant opposition party, arguing that the crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has weakened its position.

According to Wike, the PDP would ordinarily have been regarded as the leading opposition party, but its internal problems have made that difficult.

“I have told you, when you say we are leading the opposition, I have told you there is no opposition. What do you have? People who are just looking to see if they can stay relevant,” Wike said.

“Who is the opposition leader now? Obviously, it would have been PDP, but because of the crisis we have gone through, you can’t see a strong party that you would call the leading opposition party.”

Wike said he was not concerned about the activities of opposition politicians and made it clear that he intended to put them under pressure ahead of the 2027 election.

“My job is to make them feel unwell all day because they will have high blood pressure. I think that’s my job, to make them have high blood pressure,” he said.

The FCT minister further vowed to ensure that opposition parties continue to face difficulties before the 2027 polls.

“I’m not here to make them perform well. And that is what we are doing to them. So, we have to be patient. It does not give me any headache,” Wike said.

“Everyone understands now what they’re going through, and I’m going to make things even harder for them.”

Wike’s comments come as opposition figures, including Atiku, continue preparations for the 2027 presidential election, with the ADC positioning itself as a major platform for challenging the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC.