All my children supported Peter Obi in 2023 – Wike

Former Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike has revealed the strategy behind preventing Peter Obi from winning the 2023 presidential election in the state. Wike, who served as the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory during this period, stated that there were allegations pointing towards a manipulated outcome in Rivers State, favoring the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, had claimed victory in Rivers State. However, Wike and other members of the defunct G-5 governors coalition confidently stated that they worked together to ensure Obi did not win. According to Wike, the Labour Party was strategically allowed to win parts of the South-South in the 2023 elections to prevent Atiku Abubakar, the then-PDP presidential candidate, from emerging victorious in the region.

He emphasized that the decision was solely based on their understanding of Atiku's strength in the South-South and the potential impact a PDP victory would have. Wike highlighted that the only exception was Rivers State, where they firmly believed that Obi would not win, as it could send a signal in the wrong direction. He reiterated that it is no longer the same scenario now, asserting that "Obi can't win the South-South."