FCT Minister Nyesom Wike has rejected claims that he manipulated the 2023 presidential election in Rivers State and other parts of the South-South to help President Bola Tinubu defeat Labour Party candidate Peter Obi.

Wike spoke on Wednesday while addressing journalists in Abuja, saying the allegations were based on a false story spread mainly on social media.

The minister had earlier sparked controversy during an interview on TVC’s Journalists’ Hangout, where he said the G5 governors used a political strategy that helped Obi gain votes in some parts of the South-South.

Some opposition politicians and commentators interpreted the remarks as an admission that the election had been manipulated.

Wike, however, said that was not what he meant. He explained that the G5 had adopted a strategy to reduce the influence of Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, rather than rig the election.

Responding to claims that he personally changed election results to favour Tinubu, Wike questioned how one person could manipulate results from thousands of polling units.

“People who don’t understand, how can they say I rigged the election? How would I have done it? So, I just took the result sheets, wrote it, and gave it to INEC?” he asked.

Wike also dismissed the idea that social media trends could accurately determine the winner of a nationwide election.

“I’ve always said social media does not win elections. You have about 176,000 polling units, and probably you have seen 300 polling units and then you rush to the conclusion that so-and-so has won,” he said.

According to him, the opposition also failed to prove in court that the election results from Rivers State had been manipulated.

“We felt that Atiku was more of a factor in that election than Obi. So our strategy was that, make sure that you vote for Obi to win in order to deny Atiku the votes,” he said.

Wike maintained that the strategy was successful and said political discussions about the 2023 election should be based on actual results rather than social media claims.

The Kwara State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has appointed Prince Omar Bolaji Gambari, OBG, an international lawyer, entrepreneur and corporate strategic adviser, as the Director-General of the party’s Campaign Organisation for the 2027 governorship election.

The appointment was unanimously agreed upon at an expanded meeting involving the leadership of the party and the PDP governorship candidate, Engr. Suleiman Bolakale Kawu Agaka, and presided over by the State Chairman, Isa Bawa Adamu.

In a statement issued in Ilorin on Wednesday and signed by the State Publicity Secretary, Olusegun Olusola Adewara, the party described the appointment as a deliberate decision based on OBG’s extensive professional experience, organisational capacity, knowledge of the political landscape and strong engagement with young people across the state.

Prince Omar Bolaji Gambari was one of the leading aspirants who participated in the PDP’s 2026 governorship process.

During the contest, he built considerable engagement around his aspiration and brought a strong youthful presence, fresh ideas and an international professional perspective into the party’s internal process.

Following the emergence of Engr. Suleiman Bolakale Kawu Agaka as the party’s governorship candidate, OBG remained an active participant in the party’s political engagements.

His appointment as Campaign Director-General now places him at the centre of the coordination of the party’s campaign organisation ahead of the 2027 election.

“Prince Omar Bolaji Gambari brings to this responsibility a combination of professional experience, youthful energy, organisational exposure and an understanding of contemporary political communication,” the statement said.

“His background cuts across international law, finance, entrepreneurship, real estate, agriculture and community development. These experiences will be relevant to the coordination of a modern campaign organisation involving people from different backgrounds and generations.”

OBG was born into the Ilorin Emirate royal family. He began his education at the A.B.U. Staff School, Zaria, before proceeding to the Nigerian Military School, Zaria, for his post-primary education.

He obtained his first degree in Economics before studying Law at Fordham University School of Law, New York, United States, where he earned his law degree and was admitted to the New York State Bar in 2000.

He briefly served in the Nigerian Army after his first degree and subsequently worked with Merrill Lynch, the major American financial services institution now part of Bank of America.

He later worked as a lawyer with the Legal Department of the United Nations and with the international law firm Simpson Thacher & Bartlett.

He subsequently established his own private legal practice, through which he has advised corporations and institutions on international transactions, joint ventures, commercial matters and dispute resolution, with professional engagements spanning sectors including technology, energy, finance and development.

Beyond legal practice, OBG has built business interests in real estate, energy and agriculture and has advised businesses and institutions on enterprise development and international expansion.

His involvement in youth development also predates his current political engagement.

In the late 1990s, he established the Nigerian Youth Organization in New York, an initiative aimed at connecting young Nigerians in the diaspora through social and community activities.

Through the OBG Foundation, he has also supported initiatives relating to youth empowerment, education, mentorship and enterprise development. OBG previously contested for the House of Representatives seat representing Ilorin East/South Federal Constituency in 2018 under the PDP before joining the 2026 governorship primary contest.

“Our party believes his experience in the private sector, international legal practice, entrepreneurship and community engagement, combined with his familiarity with the political environment in Kwara, informed the decision to entrust him with the coordination of the party’s 2027 campaign organisation.

“This appointment marks another stage in the party’s preparations for the 2027 governorship election, with the campaign structure expected to provide coordination across the party’s various levels and constituencies,” the statement added.