Peter Obi: Did Wike rig 2023 election in Tinubu’s favour? Tinubu’s minister breaks silence

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr Nyesom Wike, has dismissed allegations that he rigged the 2023 presidential election in the South-South in favour of President Bola Tinubu against Labour Party candidate, Mr Peter Obi.

Responding to critics who accused him of altering result sheets in favour of Tinubu, Wike mocked the notion that an individual could single-handedly dictate the outcome across thousands of polling units.

People who don’t understand, how can they say I rigged the election? How would I have done it?

To prevent Atiku from securing the region, Wike explained that their strategy involved routing votes toward Peter Obi in specific areas to split the opposition base and suppress Atiku’s margin.

We felt that Atiku was more of a factor in that election than Obi.

Assuming Obi won Rivers, add it for him. Would he have won the election?

Wike also argued that attempting to manipulate an election without genuine grassroots popularity was impossible in Nigeria’s current political landscape.

When you talk about rigging, you cannot rig an election where you are not popular. You cannot.