“Do You Know What We Did In 2023?” — Wike Speaks On How They Ensured Obi, Atiku Lost To Tinubu In 2023

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has revealed how he and his political allies strategically worked to guarantee that Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate Atiku Abubakar and Labour Party flagbearer Peter Obi lost the 2023 presidential election to President Bola Tinubu.

Wike characterized the maneuver as a calculated political tactic aimed directly at stopping Atiku, whom he viewed as the chief contender driving the PDP’s electoral fortunes.

Speaking on Wednesday during an interactive media chat in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Wike explained that the strategy required depriving Atiku of crucial PDP machinery, particularly across the South-East, by redirecting momentum toward Obi’s bid.

He noted that the objective was to dismantle Atiku’s electoral path by allowing Obi to sweep support in the South-East zone.

“Do you know what we did in 2023? Let me tell you now to shock you. We knew that the man who was controlling the election was Atiku,” Wike said.

“Forget about all the noise about Obi. We gave it to him – take the South-East.”

The FCT minister noted that the former Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom, played a pivotal role in executing the arrangement due to his strong personal objections to the All Progressives Congress’s (APC) same-faith ticket.

“We knew his bias, we knew what was going to happen because of the Muslim-Muslim ticket,” Wike said.

He highlighted that the overarching goal was to dismantle Atiku’s coalition while encouraging Obi to build an unassailable stronghold across the South-East.

“We wanted to block Atiku, so we said, support Obi. It was a strategy. We wanted to defeat him, yes. And he took it,” he added.

Wike asserted that this strategic move successfully severed Atiku’s access to vital South-South votes, which otherwise could have altered the final presidential tally.

He maintained that the PDP’s internal power struggles and structural fracturing ultimately sealed the party’s defeat rather than external pressure.

The disclosure comes as key political actors initiate early realignments, strategy sessions, and cross-party talks ahead of the upcoming 2027 general elections.