“Our Major Opponent Was Atiku, Obi Wasn’t A Threat” – Wike Explains Why His Camp Backed Peter Obi In 2023

• FCT Minister Nyesom Wike has explained that his camp’s decision to support Peter Obi in parts of the South-South during the 2023 presidential election was aimed at denying former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar votes from the region.
• Wike said Atiku was considered a bigger political factor at the time because of the PDP’s traditional strength in the South-South, while he maintained that the strategy should not be interpreted as election rigging.

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has explained why his camp supported Peter Obi in parts of the South-South during the 2023 presidential election.

Wike said the strategy was not primarily about stopping Obi but about preventing former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, the Peoples Democratic Party’s presidential candidate at the time, from benefiting from the region’s traditional PDP support.

“I would say that Atiku was more of a factor in that election than Obi. So our strategy was: make sure that you vote for Obi to win in order to deny Atiku the votes,” Wike said.

He explained that the South-South had historically been a strong PDP region, meaning that a strong showing for Atiku could have strengthened his position in the election.

“South-South was purely a PDP state, purely PDP state. And so, if you had voted for PDP, then Atiku would have won. And that was a threat. Obi wasn’t a threat,” he said.

Wike also said political groups were entitled to develop electoral strategies without publicly disclosing them.

He rejected claims that the strategy amounted to rigging the 2023 election, arguing that no result had been presented at the tribunal to establish that the Rivers State result had been manipulated.

Wike further dismissed reliance on social media trends as evidence of electoral outcomes, insisting that actual polling-unit results should be used to assess elections.

Social Media Reactions

Resunu Resman: Na only Igbo no know this thing.
Even then we were saying it that Obi was just disturbing Atiku and not Tinubu

Ekene Okonkwo: The morning Obi? Evening Obi? Afternoon Obi? And at Night Obi? Shame on dey catch una abeg?🤔

Obidimma Rapheal: Hahaha
The mind game is on Obi wasn’t a threat yet it’s always Obi this and that
Why not leave this Obi Alone ?

Amaechi George: One thing I know is that people are not fools

Lyon Wansena Mbah: But most of Obi supporters will not believe it… Because their not politicians but content creators

Anyanwu Eze: Meanwhile if Obi’s votes in Rivers where fully announced, the total outcome would have been a different ball game

Oluwole Seun: He want people to see Obi not an option candidate.
Nigerians knows better.
We are backing Obi. Since he is not a treat, why chatting Obi every day

Abdulmajid Khalifah Abdullahi: Whoever didn’t know that the separate ticket of Atiku, Kwankwaso and Obi was part of APC game plan is not supposed to be having political discussions

Blessing Ehi Andrew: E get weitin this man never talk
Okay Sir we don hear you

S. Ahmad: Some people didn’t get the message yet

Em Ma: But he won rivers,, Atiku didn’t

Golden Nju Onwiagbor: Inek chairman has spoken.

Samuel Odaudu: Did u campaign for Obi or how did you make him win effect of ogogoro part 20 🙄🙄

Samson Francis Nkata: Wike should pick a presidential ticket and enter the field with his fellow politicians and see how far

Olushola Sesan Rotimi: Just to write we rigged in your caption is so hard for you guys ba

Olumide Komolafe: He hasn’t said anything new. The handwriting was clearly on the wall but Obi’s supporters refused to acknowledge it.

Ugo Chukwu: Atiku really knows this man . He start from 6am in the morning to take whiskey. Interesting