Wike Denies Rigging 2023 Election, Defends G5 Strategy

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has rejected allegations that he manipulated the 2023 presidential election in the South-South to favour President Bola Tinubu over Labour Party candidate Peter Obi.

Wike, who spoke in Abuja on Wednesday, described the allegation as a narrative largely driven by social media. He said the outcome of the election in the region reflected a political strategy adopted by the G5 governors rather than illegal manipulation of results.

The G5 comprised Wike and former governors Seyi Makinde, Samuel Ortom, Okezie Ikpeazu and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi. The group opposed the presidential candidacy of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar during the 2023 election.

Wike explained that the group considered Atiku a major political threat in the South-South because of the PDP’s traditional strength in the region. According to him, the strategy was to allow Obi to gain votes in some areas so that Atiku would not benefit from the region’s PDP support.

He said the approach was applied in states including Edo and Cross River, while Rivers was treated differently because of its political importance to the group.

Wike’s comments followed criticism of his earlier statement that the G5 had strategically helped Obi win in parts of the South-South during the 2023 election. Critics and opposition figures interpreted the remarks as an admission of electoral manipulation.

Rejecting that interpretation, Wike questioned how he could personally alter results across thousands of polling units. He also argued that social media observations from a limited number of polling units could not be used to determine the overall outcome of a national election.

The minister further pointed to the legal challenges that followed the 2023 election, asking whether those who alleged that he manipulated results had presented Rivers State election results in court to establish their claims.

Wike said the G5’s strategy was based on political calculations and that the group believed preventing Atiku from securing the South-South would affect his overall electoral position.

He maintained that the political strategy should not be confused with the illegal alteration of election results, insisting that the allegations against him were unfounded.

The controversy comes as Wike continues to play a prominent role in political discussions ahead of the 2027 presidential election, particularly through his support for President Tinubu’s re-election.

Wike’s latest comments have therefore renewed debate over the role of the G5 in the 2023 election and the extent to which political alliances and voting strategies influenced the contest.

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