Wike’s two-edged sword dilemma over Abuja, Rivers’ elections holding same day

Wike’s two-edged sword dilemma over Abuja, Rivers’ elections holding same day

By The Neighbourhood Team

Nigeria’s Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja, Nyesom Wike, is facing a two-edged sword dilemma, having to make a choice between the devil and the deep blue sea, a very credible source in his camp has told The Neighbourhood Newspaper. Consequently, the Minister, it was further revealed, is set to take a fait accompli plunge in the next week.

What is Wike’s dilemma?

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has fixed two critical elections same day. The Abuja Areas Council elections and two by-elections in Rivers State, by the Electoral Commission’s timetable, shall be holding on Saturday, February 21. For Wike, both elections are matters of do-or-die. For Abuja, Wike, who superintends that Territory, would love to dominate events that day to sustain his perceived larger-than-life posture. And for Rivers, Wike counts it that he would suffer political humiliation should the camp of Governor Siminalayi Fubara produce the next elected Members into the Rivers State House of Assembly. Since December, 2025, Wike has been touring local government areas in the state under the guide of “Thank You” visits. But for those familiar with Wike and his style of politics, those visits were meant to prop his loyalists and take a headcount of absentees from such gatherings. Such would be counted as pariah henceforth and treated as such.

On February 21, voters in Abuja will be voting all six Area Councils. The Areas are Abuja Municipal (AMAC), Bwari, Gwagwalada, Kuje, Kwali and Abaji. In total, there are 6 chairmanship positions and 62 councillorship seats.

In the last FCT Area Council elections, held on February 12, 2022, the results were a significant split between the two major parties, marking a shift from the previous 2016 and 2019 cycles where the APC had a stronger hold. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) each won three of the six Area Councils.

In Abuja Municipal (AMAC), PDP’s Christopher Zakka (Maikalangu), was declared winner, whereas in Bwari, John Gabaya of the PDP won. Then in Kuje, PDP’s Suleman Sabo was the winner; in Gwagwalada, it was APC’s Abubakar Jibrin Giri who was declared winner. In Kwali, APC’s Danladi Chiya was winner while in Abaji, APC’s Abdullahi Abubakar Omaki was announced the winner.

The PDP’s victory in AMAC, Bwari, and Kuje was seen as a major political statement, as these councils cover the most urbanised parts of the FCT, including the city centre and major satellite towns like Kubwa and Nyanya.

The Abaji election was unique. While the APC was declared the winning party in Abaji, there was a prolonged legal battle over who the actual candidate was between Mohammed Fuad Abubakar and Abdullahi Abubakar Omaki. The courts eventually resolved the leadership tussle in favour of the APC structure. Then followed the tenure extension controversy. The elected officials were originally supposed to serve three-year terms. However, due to the Electoral Act 2022, their tenure was extended to four years to align with new statutory requirements. This is why the next election is falling on February 21, 2026, instead of 2025

The Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) is the “crown jewel” of the FCT elections. In 2022, the PDP’s Christopher Zakka defeated the APC’s Murtala Karshi in a closely contested race. But with PDP out of this election and the African Democratic Congress, ADC, working to entrench a stronghold as prelude to 2027, APC, which Wike is working for, might not find or a walk in the park. But it is here Mr. Wike would want to score a point.

According to Section 28(1) of the Electoral Act 2022, INEC is required to issue a formal notice of election at least 360 days before the date of the poll. Former INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, officially announced the February 21 date in early 2025 to comply with this legal window. Due to its unique status, the FCT is the only part of Nigeria where the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) conducts local government elections.

Switching over to Rivers State, afraid that Gov. Fubara would “bury” him politically, Mr. Wike has been mobilising all resources within his reach to ensure that his choice of candidate runs in the APC and at least two other political parties, the source told this medium. Wike who knows that it would be like waiting for Godot to achieve that considering that Rt. Hon. Ehie Edison, the former Member of the State legislature who resigned necessitating the by-election, has vested interest, would want to perform magic to have his way. But, Wike is reported to have an Option B.

That both elections are holding same day has left Wike in limbo. Though at the moment nobody knows to which political party he belongs, if he lost the Abuja elections to his opponents in the ADC, Wike would resign his juicy Federal Government appointment which at the moment, he is enjoying. On the other hand, would Gov. Fubara’s camp win the by-elections in Rivers, Wike would lose political value. So, Wike is said to be desperate to use this coming by-elections to strengthen his waning rating in Abuja. But can a man eat with both hands in his mouth at the same time? Who knows, Wike might.