Reuben Abati Faults Wike Over Alleged Allocation of Political Positions Ahead of 2027

Former presidential aide and Arise Television presenter, Dr Reuben Abati, has criticised Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, over what he described as an attempt to dictate political choices ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Abati made the remarks on Friday, October 9, 2026, while speaking on Arise TV’s Morning Show. He was reacting to a video circulating online that reportedly showed Wike identifying individuals for various political offices at a rally in Rivers State.

According to Abati, Wike’s conduct suggested that he believed he could determine who would occupy the presidency, governorship, Senate, House of Representatives and State House of Assembly seats in the next election cycle.

The broadcaster questioned the propriety of publicly identifying preferred candidates and inviting them to step forward at a political gathering, arguing that elective offices should not be treated as positions that an individual politician can distribute.

Abati acknowledged that Wike, Minister of Works David Umahi and other political figures may share the objective of securing President Bola Tinubu’s re-election in 2027. However, he maintained that political alliances and shared ambitions should not be confused with the authority to determine the outcome of elections.

He stressed that the power to elect public officials ultimately rests with Nigerian voters, not individual political leaders, regardless of their influence or standing within their political networks.

The comments have renewed attention on Wike’s influence in Rivers State and his role in building political alliances ahead of the 2027 elections. They also highlight the wider debate over the influence of political power brokers in candidate selection and the importance of voters having the final say at the ballot box.