2027: “Behaves As If He Can Dictate To Everybody” – Abati Strongly Criticises Wike’s Behaviour

Former presidential spokesperson and Arise TV Morning Show co-anchor, Dr. Reuben Abati, has strongly criticized the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, accusing him of acting as though he holds the unilateral power to determine political offices ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Abati voiced his concerns on Friday, October 9, 2026, during the “What’s Trending” segment presented by Ojy Okpe on Arise Television’s Morning Show.

The public criticism followed a viral video from a political rally in Rivers State, where Wike was captured publicly handing out and allocating political tickets—ranging from the presidency to federal and state legislative seats—to his political allies.

Expressing concern over the minister’s conduct and reminding public figures that power belongs to the electorate, Abati remarked: “Wike and Senator Umahi and all of them they are working for the same purpose, to make sure that President Tinubu is elected. So, they are family in that regard.”

“But what I don’t understand is the way Minister Wike, for example, behaves as if he can dictate to everybody.”

“There is one video in circulation. He had an event in the Rivers where he was practically sharing positions, telling at a rally, telling people the president of Nigeria, that’s the President Tinubu, will take presidency. He will take governorship. He will take all the Senate members. And he was calling the people there to step forward, saying yes, vote for this one.”

“It’s then after allocating positions to the president, he now said he as Wike, it’s not good that he too doesn’t take something.”

“Then he called out one person who will go to House of Reps, then some boys or some of his boys who will go to House of Assembly, and people were excited. He was allocating seats.”

“No. Nobody should have that kind of power. It should be the Nigerian people, the electorate that should vote. But as for their family, yeah, they have the right to work together.”