Businessman and social commentator Isaac Fayose has rejected FCT Minister Nyesom Wike’s assessment of the opposition’s strength in Abuja, insisting that Peter Obi and the Nigeria Democratic Congress have substantial support in the nation’s capital. Fayose made the statement on Tuesday during an appearance on News Central TV, following Wike’s recent comments about the 2027 […]

Businessman and social commentator Isaac Fayose has rejected FCT Minister Nyesom Wike’s assessment of the opposition’s strength in Abuja, insisting that Peter Obi and the Nigeria Democratic Congress have substantial support in the nation’s capital.

Fayose made the statement on Tuesday during an appearance on News Central TV, following Wike’s recent comments about the 2027 presidential election.

The FCT Minister had described the forthcoming election as an easy contest and expressed confidence that President Bola Tinubu would win both Rivers State and the Federal Capital Territory.

Fayose disagreed with Wike, insisting that the minister’s assessment did not reflect what he believed was the political mood among residents of Abuja.

“Abuja is NDC, Abuja is Peter Obi,” he declared during the television interview.

The social commentator also raised concerns about the possibility of voter suppression or manipulation during the 2027 election.

He claimed that the NDC had already put measures in place to protect its votes and prevent what he described as attempts to manipulate the electoral process.

Fayose said the major concern for opposition supporters was determining how any alleged attempt to suppress their votes could be prevented.

“People are ready to vote. All we are scared of now is what angle are they going to suppress us from this time? This is the only area we are trying to fine-tune,” he said.

He also called for greater attention to public opinion before elections, urging Nigerians to ask voters directly about their preferred candidates.

According to him, countries outside Nigeria sometimes conduct mock elections to gauge public opinion before the actual polls.

Fayose said Nigeria could consider similar approaches to better understand voters’ choices ahead of the 2027 elections.

His remarks come as political parties and their supporters intensify mobilisation across the country, particularly in areas regarded as politically significant to the presidential contest.

The businessman has recently been outspoken about Wike’s political activities in Abuja and Rivers State, including the minister’s reported appointment to coordinate APC campaign activities in the two areas.

Fayose has also made an earlier claim that five APC governors were secretly backing the NDC, although he did not identify the governors and the allegation has not been independently verified.

The latest exchange adds another layer to the political debate over the FCT ahead of the 2027 presidential election, with Fayose and Wike presenting sharply different views about the political landscape in Abuja.