2027: ‘Go to the streets’ – Isaac Fayose challenges Wike over claims on Peter Obi, opposition

Social commentator and businessman, Isaac Fayose, has challenged the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, over his claim that opposition parties lack popularity in Abuja ahead of the 2027 general election.

Fayose, who spoke during an interview on News Central TV, insisted that former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and the Nigerian Democratic Congress, NDC, enjoy strong support in the nation’s capital.

His remarks followed Wike’s recent assertion that the opposition was not popular in Abuja and that President Bola Tinubu would comfortably win both the FCT and Rivers State in the 2027 election.

Disagreeing with the minister, Fayose said: “Abuja is NDC, Abuja is Peter Obi.”

He urged political leaders to engage ordinary Nigerians to gauge public sentiment ahead of the election.

“Go to the street and try to talk to one or two people. Ask them, ‘Who are you going to vote for?'” he said.

Fayose added that Nigeria could adopt opinion polls and mock elections similar to those conducted in some countries to assess voter preferences before major elections.

He further claimed that many Nigerians were willing to vote in the next election but expressed concerns about possible attempts to suppress votes.

“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,” Fayose said.