Wike: If Atiku or Peter Obi wins, I'll be the first politician they come after

Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike has declared that he would be the first politician to face political persecution if Atiku Abubakar or Peter Obi wins Nigeria's 2027 presidential election, saying his unwavering support for President Bola Tinubu has made him a marked man in opposition politics.

Wike made the remarks during a media chat held in his hometown, Obio-Akpor, Rivers State, where he defended his decision to campaign vigorously for Tinubu's re-election despite remaining a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The former Rivers State governor said he has no doubts about what would happen if the opposition defeats Tinubu at the polls.

“I will be the first politician they will come after. I know they will come for my head,” Wike said, insisting that every political move he makes is driven by his determination to secure the President's second term.

Wike's comments come as Nigeria's political landscape enters the decisive phase ahead of the 16 January 2027 presidential election. Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), and Peter Obi, the flagbearer of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), are leading the opposition challenge to President Bola Tinubu's re-election bid.

The FCT minister argued that his outspoken criticism of both opposition leaders and his visible alliance with Tinubu have left him particularly exposed should power change hands. He maintained that supporting the President is a calculated political choice rather than an act of convenience.

The rivalry between Wike and Atiku stretches back to the 2022 PDP presidential primary, where Wike lost the party's ticket to the former vice president. Their relationship deteriorated further during the 2023 election after Wike and his allies refused to back Atiku's campaign, eventually throwing their weight behind Tinubu.

Wike also revisited the 2023 contest, claiming that political strategies adopted by him and his allies helped weaken Atiku's chances in parts of southern Nigeria. Those claims reflect Wike's account of events and have not been independently verified.

Neither Atiku nor Obi has responded publicly to Wike's remarks. Both have consistently presented their campaigns as focused on governance, institutional reform and national renewal, while Wike insists his support for Tinubu makes him the opposition's foremost political target.

With only a few months until Nigerians vote, the exchange underscores how intensely personal the 2027 presidential race has become. Beyond party rivalry, the contest is increasingly defined by fractured alliances, lingering grievances and a high-stakes battle over the country's political future.