Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has refuted claims of judicial compromise regarding the Court of Appeal judges who handled the petitions arising from the 2023 presidential election.
Wike’s comments came in response to criticisms of the judgment issued in the petitions filed by Peter Obi of the Labour Party, Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) against President Bola Tinubu’s victory.
During an appearance on the Politics Today programme on Channels Television, Wike addressed the issue, stating, “Did Peter Obi not win at the Supreme Court when he was removed as governor? Did he pay a bribe? Let him tell the world now.”
He emphasized that when Peter Obi was removed as governor, he successfully reclaimed his mandate through the Supreme Court. Wike defended the Judiciary’s decision then but pointed out that now that the verdict has gone against them, they are criticizing the Judiciary.
The Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC) rendered its decision on September 6, 2023, dismissing the consolidated petitions filed by the APM, PDP, and Labour Party, along with their respective candidates.
In a unanimous ruling by the five-member panel led by Justice Haruna Tsammani, all the petitioners’ requests were rejected, and the victory of President Bola Tinubu in the February 25 election was affirmed.
Both Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi have expressed their disagreement with the PEPC’s verdict and have pledged to challenge the judgment at the Supreme Court.
In response to these developments, Wike, a realist, expressed his belief that Peter Obi had a slim chance of winning the presidential election. He explained his decision to support Tinubu in the election, stating, “I know that he won’t win the election. Let me tell you the truth, I am a realist.”
Wike acknowledged that although Obi was a preferred candidate among the younger generation, the reality of Nigerian politics goes beyond competence, taking into account factors like ethnicity and religion. He noted that the sentiment for generational change was present, but it didn’t fully align with the dynamics of Nigerian politics.
Wike’s comments reflect his perspective on the 2023 presidential election and the subsequent legal proceedings.
