Wike warned to step aside as FCT politics turns against him

DDM News

(DDM) — The political temperature in Nigeria’s capital is heating up as Dr. Avotu Johnson of the Labour Party National Executive Council issued a bold warning to Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, declaring that the territory is not Rivers State and cannot be controlled by money or coercion.

Dr. Johnson made the statement during a live appearance on Channels Television on Wednesday, August 6, 2025, adding fuel to ongoing tensions between the Labour Party and Wike’s political camp.

He asserted that the political terrain of Abuja is firmly in the hands of the Labour Party and no longer accessible to “outsiders” who do not understand the political culture of the FCT.

According to him, the people of Abuja are educated, politically conscious, and less likely to be influenced by financial inducements compared to voters in other regions.

He maintained that Wike’s approach to politics, which may have worked in Rivers State, would not succeed in the capital.

“Nyesom Wike should step aside and watch the politics of FCT push him away because FCT is not Rivers,” Dr. Johnson declared.

“Labour Party is the master game changer here.”

This development comes as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has fixed February 21, 2026, for the next FCT Area Council elections.

The current chairmen and councillors, elected in February 2022, are expected to conclude their four-year tenures by early 2026.

DDM reports that the Labour Party is already mobilising across the six area councils in anticipation of these crucial polls.

Dr. Johnson’s comments have further intensified scrutiny on Wike, who has become one of the most controversial political figures in the country following his dual loyalties.

Although a chieftain of the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Wike currently serves as Minister of FCT under the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) government.

He has openly pledged support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s second-term ambition, a position that has sparked criticism from both PDP and APC faithful.

Observers say this dual allegiance is undermining Wike’s credibility and limiting his political reach in key regions like the FCT, where party loyalty and ideological clarity still matter.

DDM also notes that preparations are already underway for party conventions ahead of the 2027 general elections, and all eyes are on how parties like Labour will position themselves in politically strategic zones like Abuja.

Dr. Johnson’s remarks are seen as a prelude to a larger political showdown that may redefine power structures in the capital in the coming months.

He concluded his interview with a pointed message: “You can’t beat the Labour Party in FCT. It’s a new era.

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