Wike: Jonathan never told me about 2027 presidential ambition

Nyesom Wike, minister of federal capital territory (FCT), has refuted claims linking him to efforts aimed at persuading former President Goodluck Jonathan to join the 2027 presidential race.

Speculation about Jonathan’s potential return to contest the 2027 presidency under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has sparked reactions across Nigeria’s political space.

Speaking during a media briefing in Abuja on Friday, Wike insisted that Jonathan has never confided in him about any intention to run again.

“Jonathan has never told me. He has never called me one day to say, ‘look, I’m being pressured to run’,” Wike said.

The minister said if Jonathan were to seek his opinion, he would be candid about his views.

Wike also warned against accepting unverified media reports as fact, referencing previous false claims about his travel.

“You people put something on the page of some newspaper, just like you said they flew me out of the country. Then, I now assume it’s correct,” he said.

Wike distanced himself from claims that Tanimu Turaki, former minister of special duties, was being positioned to become chairman of the PDP.

“I don’t know about Tanimu Turaki becoming chairman. Maybe he’s becoming chairman for another faction. It’s not the PDP I know,” he said.