The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, said opposition parties often accused the Federal Government of manipulating elections whenever they lost, but celebrated their victories when they won.

Wike made the remarks in Abuja while reacting to the outcome of the Osun State governorship election, which was won by the opposition. He commended President Bola Tinubu’s administration for allowing the electoral process to run without interference.

He contrasted the 2023 general election with the current political climate, saying the previous election had been surrounded by uncertainty and tension, while the 2027 elections would be different.

Wike also described the 2027 presidential election as an easy contest for President Tinubu, arguing that the opposition was currently weak and divided.

He said unseating an incumbent government required a strong and well-organised opposition that had spent years preparing for the contest, rather than one still struggling to find direction.

The minister also dismissed the chances of the opposition against Tinubu in 2027, saying governorship elections were influenced by local factors, while a presidential election was a completely different contest.

On economic challenges, Wike urged Nigerians to assess leadership based on concrete actions taken to address problems rather than sentiments.