2027: Vote For Competence, Reject Political Gamblers, Wike Urges Nigerians

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has urged Nigerians to prioritise competence, fairness and accountability when choosing their leaders ahead of the 2027 general elections, warning against politicians he described as “political gamblers.”

Wike made the call on Thursday, October 15, 2026, while delivering a keynote address at the inaugural Idoma Hall of Fame induction ceremony, organised as part of the Idoma Centenary Plus celebration.

Speaking on the theme, “People, Politics and Power Play in Nigeria: The Agitation for Equity and Fairness,” the minister cautioned Nigerians against allowing ethnic sentiments, political calculations and grievances over marginalisation to determine their electoral choices.

He questioned the sincerity of politicians who, according to him, had failed to demonstrate concern for disadvantaged citizens while occupying public office but had begun visiting internally displaced persons’ (IDP) camps to celebrate their birthdays after expressing presidential ambitions.

Wike argued that political leaders should be assessed based on their records, intentions and contributions to society rather than public appearances or appeals to ethnic loyalty.

He maintained that Nigeria’s quest for equity and fairness would remain unresolved if political actors focused solely on which ethnic group or region controlled power without addressing how that power was exercised.

“One of the enduring difficulties of our political life is the tendency to convert public power into private possession,” he said.

The minister warned that replacing one group with another in government would not address injustice if the benefits of governance remained concentrated among a few individuals.

“If one group replaces another at the table while the benefits remain fundamentally exclusionary, the occupants have changed, but the injustice has not,” Wike said.

He also criticised what he described as selective opposition to marginalisation, arguing that genuine commitment to justice required defending fairness even when it did not favour one’s community or political interests.

Addressing the federal character principle enshrined in Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution, as amended, Wike said the provision was designed to promote national unity and prevent the domination of public institutions by particular states or sectional interests.

However, he stressed that equitable representation should not come at the expense of competence and merit.

“A Nigerian should not be excluded from public office because of where he or she comes from; neither should competence become irrelevant once a candidate’s identity satisfies a representational expectation,” he said.

Wike identified employment, quality education, healthcare, infrastructure, electricity, security and economic opportunities as essential indicators of meaningful political inclusion.

He noted that Nigeria had adopted mechanisms such as federalism, state creation, revenue allocation, zoning and rotational presidency to accommodate its diversity, but argued that these arrangements alone could not guarantee fairness.

The minister called for a political culture that treats public office as a responsibility rather than an entitlement, urging leaders to prioritise national development over sectional interests.

His remarks come as political activities gradually intensify ahead of the 2027 elections, with debates over leadership, equity, representation and governance shaping the emerging political landscape.