The spokesman to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, Lere Olayinka, has said President Bola Tinubu will have a much easier contest in the 2027 presidential election than he did in 2023.

Olayinka, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, made the assertion during an interview on TVC Breakfast on Monday.

He attributed Tinubu’s expected advantage to the President’s performance in office and his ability to build political alliances with influential figures across the political divide.

According to Olayinka, Tinubu’s political strategy has weakened opposition mobilisation by bringing prominent politicians closer to his administration.

“The reason this election of 2027 will be a one-way election is because of the performance of the president in terms of national development and his performance in terms of politics,” Olayinka said.

He added that the 2027 election would be “much easier” for Tinubu than the 2023 presidential poll.

Olayinka specifically cited Wike’s continued support for Tinubu, despite the FCT minister remaining a member of the PDP.

He argued that Wike could have played a significant role in mobilising support for the PDP if he had chosen to oppose the Tinubu administration.

“If Wike was not working with the president, probably he would have been galvanizing more support for the PDP. Now he is not. The president has been able to bring him and other people to himself,” he said.

The PDP chieftain also mentioned Abia State Governor Alex Otti and Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke while highlighting the possible fragmentation of opposition support ahead of the 2027 election.

He said the possibility of different opposition figures supporting candidates of different political parties could further affect the ability of the opposition to mount a united challenge against Tinubu.

Olayinka maintained that Tinubu’s willingness to work with politicians from different parties had made both governance and political mobilisation easier for the President.

“By being open, by bringing people to himself, he has been able to make governance easier. He has also been able to make politics easier for himself,” he said.

He further urged Nigerians to recognise Wike’s contribution to Tinubu’s political strength ahead of the 2027 election, despite the FCT minister’s continued membership of the PDP.