Abuja — Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, has strongly criticized the leadership of his party over its handling of zoning arrangements in the lead-up to the 2023 general elections, warning that a repeat of the same strategy ahead of 2027 could have dire consequences.
Speaking, during a media parley on Monday, Wike accused party leaders of sidelining constitutional and traditional power-sharing principles for selfish reasons. “In 2023, I reminded them that when one region takes the Chairmanship, another should take the Presidential ticket,” he said. “But they manipulated the system and abandoned zoning.”
He explained that while the party delayed discussions on zoning, some individuals went ahead to purchase nomination forms, effectively sidestepping internal agreements. “A single zone took both the Chairmanship and the Presidential ticket. We warned them it would backfire, but they were arrogant,” Wike said.
Reflecting on the party’s current challenges, he questioned the lack of clarity regarding the zoning of the 2027 presidential ticket. “You want the South to produce the Chairman again so it can’t field a Presidential candidate. Why not declare now that the South will produce the 2027 candidate?” he asked.
Wike cautioned against repeating past mistakes, urging party members to abandon what he described as a game of deception. “This so-called smartness will not help. If they continue, it will fail again, and they will start pointing fingers. I’m warning them now, I will not agree,” he declared.
