Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, has expressed confidence that prevailing economic hardship and insecurity will not prevent Nigerians from returning President Bola Tinubu to office in the 2027 presidential election.
Wike made the assertion on Wednesday at a media parley with selected journalists in Abuja, where he addressed concerns about the impact of hunger and insecurity on the next presidential poll.
While acknowledging that both issues would feature prominently in any election conducted in Nigeria, the minister argued that voting decisions are often shaped by factors beyond the immediate economic and security conditions confronting citizens.
He urged political observers and critics to assess voter behaviour from a practical perspective rather than relying solely on theoretical assumptions about how elections should be decided.
According to Wike, a significant number of Nigerians maintain varying degrees of dependence on political leaders at the family, community, local government and ward levels. He argued that such relationships can influence how people approach elections.
“There is no election in Nigeria where the issue of hunger and insecurity won’t come up,” Wike said.
The former Rivers State governor also recalled that similar concerns over insecurity and hunger were raised during elections held under former President Muhammadu Buhari.
Wike maintained that the political realities of Nigeria make the country’s electorate different from voters in societies where citizens are less dependent on political office holders for basic support.
He explained that some Nigerians rely on political figures for food and other forms of assistance, a situation he said could affect their political choices despite the challenges they face.
The minister’s comments come amid continuing public concerns over economic hardship, food insecurity and security challenges, issues expected to remain central to political campaigns and voter discussions ahead of the 2027 general elections.
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