General News
2023 Election: Wike Explains G5’s Strategy Against Atiku
By Our Correspondent
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr Nyesom Wike, has explained that the strategy adopted by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) G5 governors during the 2023 presidential election was aimed at preventing the party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, from securing enough votes to win the election.
Wike gave the explanation while responding to reactions to his recent comments on the 2027 elections and the roles of Rivers State and the FCT.
His comments come amid political activities ahead of the 2027 general elections, with political parties and actors already positioning themselves for the forthcoming contests.
He said the G5 had developed its strategy based on its assessment of the political strength of the major contenders in the 2023 presidential election.
According to him, the South-South region was traditionally a stronghold of the PDP, and the G5 believed that allowing Atiku to secure the bloc’s votes could significantly strengthen his position in the election.
Wike said the strategy therefore involved supporting the Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, in Rivers State, rather than allowing the votes to go to Atiku.
“Our strategy was to make sure that you vote for Obi to win, in order to deny Atiku the votes,” he said.
The Minister dismissed claims that the outcome in Rivers State was achieved through manipulation of election results, arguing that the political strategy adopted by the G5 contributed to the result.
Wike also rejected what he described as conclusions based largely on social media reports, saying election outcomes should be assessed through polling-unit results and other official processes rather than online narratives.
“Social media does not win elections,” he said, adding that political actors should not conclude that a candidate had won based on results from a limited number of polling units.
The Minister further argued that even if Obi had won Rivers State, it would not necessarily have changed the overall outcome of the 2023 presidential election.
“Assuming Obi won Rivers State, for example, add it for him, would he have won the election?” he asked.
Wike maintained that the G5 had identified Atiku as its principal political opponent in the election and developed its strategy accordingly.
“Our major problem and opponent was Atiku Abubakar and if we didn’t do that, something would have happened,” he said.
He also dismissed suggestions that the G5’s strategy amounted to controlling or determining the votes of Rivers State residents, insisting that the group was operating within a broader political strategy.
Wike said political parties and candidates should understand that elections involve strategies and calculations, adding that political actors assess their major opponents and determine how best to strengthen their own position.