FCT Minister Declares Opposition ‘Already Doomed’
By The Political Desk
ABUJA, NIGERIA — JUNE 12, 2025 | President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has publicly extended an invitation to Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike to join the All Progressives Congress (APC), praising the former Rivers governor’s leadership and teasing what many see as an unfolding alliance ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Speaking during the inauguration of the Arterial Road N16 to N20 in Katampe District, Abuja, Tinubu said Wike would be “warmly welcomed” into the APC fold the moment he decides to switch allegiance.
“He’s not a member of our party… not yet,” Tinubu said with a grin. “But the day he changes his mind and registers with the progressives, we will welcome him. Because we will join him in singing, ‘as e dey pain them, e dey sweet us.’”
The political jest came amid a broader context of celebration, as the FCT commenced a 17-day event lineup to mark Tinubu’s second year in office.
Opposition Coalition ‘Dead on Arrival’ — Wike
Responding with characteristic bluntness, Wike dismissed any prospects of a unified opposition defeating Tinubu in 2027, declaring the coalition as already “dead on arrival.”
“Mr President, your good work has killed the coalition,” Wike declared. “It has failed — and I promise to keep giving them high blood pressure.”
Wike praised Tinubu’s infrastructural vision for the capital city, crediting the President’s leadership for increasing contractor confidence, accelerating project execution, and restoring credibility to public works.
“Most of them [contractors] have gone to site without mobilisation,” Wike said. “That’s confidence building — and that’s what you’ve created.”
Infrastructure as Political Strategy
Tinubu used the event to reinforce his administration’s infrastructure-first approach under the Renewed Hope Agenda, stating that development must be anchored on roads, rails, power, and education.
“Infrastructure is not a luxury. It’s a necessity. It’s the bedrock of national competitiveness,” he said.
He further emphasized the importance of peaceful resettlement, commending indigenous communities that cooperated during relocation to make way for the Katampe road projects.
“Not that we grabbed land,” Tinubu clarified. “We relocated with peace and compensation. That’s the kind of development we believe in.”
The road project — a six-lane dual carriageway spanning 3.7 kilometers — connects the Nnamdi Azikiwe Expressway to Wole Soyinka Way, cutting across Abuja’s Katampe District and integrating new interchanges for traffic flow.
Defection Watch: 2027 Begins Now
Tinubu’s invitation to Wike is already fuelling fresh rounds of speculation about the FCT minister’s political future. Although Wike was instrumental in the PDP’s G-5 alliance that tacitly supported Tinubu in 2023, he has not formally joined the APC.
Observers note that the President’s public show of camaraderie could be an opening act in a broader 2027 strategy: absorbing influential power brokers across party lines while opposition leaders like Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi struggle to unite.
Wike’s fierce dismissal of the opposition’s plans — paired with Tinubu’s playful overture — signals a potential defection ahead of the PDP’s planned August 2025 convention, where factional disputes are already boiling over.
Political Significance
While no official declaration has been made, Tinubu’s statements suggest an ongoing effort to expand the APC’s coalition footprint. Analysts believe the President is consolidating support in key regions, especially within the South-South and FCT zones, where Wike’s influence remains formidable.