By Obinna Uballa
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has taken a swipe at the 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, saying celebrating birthdays at Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps would not help him secure victory in the 2027 presidential election.
Wike made the remarks while speaking during his thank-you tour to Abaji Area Council following the 2026 Federal Capital Territory council elections.
The former Rivers State governor said Obi’s decision to celebrate his birthday at IDP camps was a political strategy aimed at gaining sympathy ahead of the 2027 race, insisting that such gestures would not translate into electoral success.
According to him, Nigerians had already made up their minds and Obi stood no chance of defeating President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the next presidential contest.
“Some people said it’s because of the crisis we have IDPs,” Wike said. “Every time they have birthday, because of the crisis situation we find ourselves, they now go to IDP camps to celebrate.
“Ask them where they were coming from. Were there not IDPs there? Why didn’t they go there to celebrate their birthdays then? Simply because they say they want to be president.
“If they like, they should celebrate three birthdays in a day, it will not help them to win because people have already made up their minds.”
Obi, a former governor of Anambra State, had after the 2023 presidential election marked his birthday at an IDP camp.
Born on July 19, 1961, Obi travelled to Plateau State on July 19, 2023, where he donated food items to displaced persons at a camp in the Mangu area of the state.
He was received by the Plateau State Governor, Caleb Muftwang, before proceeding to the camp to interact with the displaced residents and present the donations.
