Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi
The National Publicity Secretary of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Osa Director, has alleged that recent comments by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, amounted to an admission that Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi was denied victory in the 2023 presidential election.
In a post shared on his X handle on Thursday, Osa Director said Wike’s remarks amounted to a “confession” of electoral manipulation, insisting that many Nigerians already believed Obi was “rigged out” of the election.
He said he was shocked by what he described as Wike’s comments, arguing that such statements would have attracted investigation in countries with stronger democratic institutions.
“I have struggled, almost asphyxiating under the psychological weight of shock and disappointment, hearing Nyesom Wike, the FCT Minister, in his guttural voice, confess to electoral heist in the 2023 general elections. For him, it was normal talk, but in saner climes and societies, he would by now be answering questions before the relevant security agencies. Not in Nigeria.”
The NDC spokesman also criticised what he described as the normalisation of electoral misconduct and political violence.
“It is sad how we have normalized the abnormal in our country, where a President can say that all is fair in politics. So, killing, maiming and intimidation of voters and political opponents are fair?”
Questioning Wike’s claims about influencing election outcomes, Osa Director argued that the minister could not explain Peter Obi’s victories in Lagos and parts of the North Central if he truly controlled the election results.
“The fraudulent claims of manipulation of votes to shore up Obi’s total aggregate are hollow. If truly he made Obi win in the South-South, was he also the one who made Obi defeat President Tinubu in Lagos State, which has been under his vice grip for over two decades? Was he the one who made Obi clear some North Central states like Plateau?”
According to him, Wike’s comments should instead be interpreted as confirmation that Obi was denied victory in the 2023 poll.
“The truth in Wike’s claim is a reverse interpretation of his confession. In essence, he just told Nigerians what we already knew — that they conspired to rig and rob Obi of victory in 2023. Now that Obi is proving to be their nemesis ahead of 2027, he had to say something to demystify the nationally preferred candidate.”
Looking ahead to the next general election, Osa Director expressed confidence that the outcome would be different.
“But one thing is sure: 2027 will not be 2023. A New Nigeria is POssible! Certainly, it will happen.”
The statement follows recent public comments by Wike on the 2023 presidential election, which have continued to generate reactions from political figures and party supporters as political activities ahead of the 2027 general elections intensify.
