In a sharp political salvo, FCT Minister and former Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike, has taken aim at former presidential candidate Peter Obi, accusing him of being more of a “social media president” than a serious contender for Nigeria’s top office.

The Barbs and the Setting

Speaking during a recent public appearance, Wike dismissed Obi’s presidential prospects as mere online fantasy.

He insisted that his detractors’ acclaim is driven by emotional loyalty rather than substantive support, and that Obi’s time to lead the nation has passed.

“They say Peter Obi will be president… but *president where*?” Wike declared, taunting Obi’s backers as victims of sentimental following.

“Out of emotion, most of you are just following someone you don’t even know.”

He went further, leveling the accusation that during his eight‑year tenure as Anambra State governor, Obi never held local government elections — a point Wike uses to question Obi’s democratic credentials.

A Broader Pattern of Critique

This condemnation is consistent with Wike’s prior remarks. In April 2025, he explained his refusal to align with Obi during the 2023 election by labeling him a “social media candidate,” suggesting that online popularity does not translate into electoral viability.

“I don’t do social media candidates,” Wike had said.

In September, Wike went on record warning his party, the PDP, against reabsorbing Obi, calling such moves “dangerous” and hypocritical, arguing that Obi’s past criticism of the party undermines any possibility of meaningful reconciliation.

He has also criticized Obi’s advocacy for a one‑term presidency, saying that circumstances might change if Obi ever holds power and that it is unwise to precommit to limiting one’s own mandate.

The Political Backdrop

Wike’s latest missive arrives amidst escalating maneuvering ahead of the 2027 general election. Peter Obi is believed to be aligning with the African Democratic Congress (ADC) coalition, positioning himself as a potential challenger to the incumbent administration.

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For Wike, the drive is also internal: he has long been a vocal proponent of equity, zoning, and internal balance within his party. He has repeatedly voiced concern that allowing Obi back into the PDP would further fracture the party’s ideological coherence.

Responses & Reactions

Obi’s camp has not yet issued a formal response to Wike’s latest volley. However, in earlier instances, the ex‑governor and his supporters have pushed back against such dismissals, arguing that online mobilization is essential in modern politics, especially to engage young and digitally savvy Nigerians.

Political watchers see Wike’s remarks as part of a broader rhetorical strategy: by undermining Obi’s legitimacy, he reinforces his own influence within PDP power circles and frames Obi’s opposition as more symbolic than substantive.