The 2027 presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Adewole Adebayo, has said he would restrict Nyesom Wike’s public comments if he appointed the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to his administration.
Adebayo made the remark during an interview with Symfoni TV while discussing governance, the performance of President Bola Tinubu’s administration and recent political developments, including the Osun State election.
The SDP candidate said he would put “sellotape” over Wike’s mouth if he became president and appointed him to his government, apparently referring to the minister’s outspoken style of communication.
Despite the criticism, Adebayo praised Wike’s work ethic and his contribution to infrastructure development in Abuja.
“I respect Wike for one thing: that he has a good work ethic. He can work,” Adebayo said.
He argued that several previous FCT ministers had achieved significantly less, adding that Nigeria’s infrastructure would improve if commissioners of works across the states matched what he described as Wike’s level of output.
Adebayo, however, questioned whether Nigerians were getting sufficient value from some of the projects executed under Wike, suggesting that contract costs could be inflated.
He maintained that, regardless of those concerns, visible infrastructure projects were being delivered in the FCT and had made movement and daily life easier for residents and visitors.
The presidential candidate nevertheless described Wike as a “bad example for Nigerian politics”, particularly over what he characterised as the minister’s approach to force and the use of state power.
