FCT Minister Nyesom Wike has said President Bola Tinubu could have secured victory for the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the recent Osun State governorship election if he had chosen to deploy the full political influence of the Federal Government.

Wike, who remains a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), made the statement on Tuesday while inspecting flood-prone areas in Maitama, Abuja.

According to him, Tinubu deliberately allowed the election to proceed without federal interference, adding that he would have supported the President if he had decided to pursue an APC victory at all costs.

“If the president had wanted to win the Osun State election at all costs, I would have been there and we would have won it, and there’s nothing the governor can do,” Wike said.

Governor Ademola Adeleke of the Accord Party was declared winner of the August 15 election after securing 19 of the state’s 30 local government areas, while APC candidate Bola Oyebamiji won 11.

Wike said the outcome demonstrated that the Federal Government did not deploy its influence to manipulate the election in favour of the APC.

“There was no federal might used in Osun. When you see the force and might of the federal government, you will know,” he said.

The minister also suggested that Adeleke could have been a member of the APC if certain circumstances within the party had worked out differently.

“Ordinarily, Adeleke would have been with APC if things had worked out well,” Wike added.

On the 2027 presidential election, Wike predicted that Tinubu would face a much easier contest than he did in 2023, citing what he described as the weakened state of opposition parties.

“The 2027 elections will be the easiest one for the President compared to 2023,” he said.

“This time around, the opposition has been crippled, homeless, no feather.”

Wike has continued to support the Tinubu administration despite retaining his membership of the opposition PDP.