Claim
A post circulating on Instagram by the account @nporter.ng claims that the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, admitted to rigging the 2023 presidential election. The post quoted Wike as saying: “We rigged the 2023 election, yes, we did it, with our full chest, and there is nothing Nigerians can do about it”.
The post has over 2k likes, over 800 comments, over 500 reposts and over 1000 saves.
Background
Nyesom Ezenwo Wike is a Nigerian lawyer and politician who served as the Governor of Rivers State from 2015 to 2023. He was appointed Minister of the Federal Capital Territory in August 2023.
During the 2023 presidential election, Wike was one of five PDP governors who formed the G5.
Others were Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, Samuel Ortom of Benue State, Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State.
The group opposed Atiku Abubakar’s presidential candidacy and became an influential political bloc during the election campaign. Wike has now provided further details about the group’s political calculations during that election.
Fact-Check
The claim appears to have followed comments Wike made during an appearance on TVC’s Journalists’ Hangout on September 21, 2026, in which he discussed the role of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) G5 governors during the 2023 presidential election.
Wike explained that the G5 had adopted a political strategy aimed at preventing the PDP’s presidential candidate at the time, Atiku Abubakar, from benefiting from the party’s traditional strength in parts of the South-South.
According to reports, Wike said the group decided that in states such as Edo and Cross River, it would be preferable for Labour Party candidate, Peter Obi, to benefit from the votes rather than Atiku. He said: “Our problem will be Atiku. Therefore, instead of Atiku to take it, let it go to the Labour Party. That was our strategy”.
He also said that Rivers State was treated differently because of the political implications of an Obi’s victory there. (Punch Newspapers)
These comments generated reactions online, with some people interpreting Wike’s description of the G5’s strategy as an admission of election manipulation.
However, Wike subsequently denied rigging or manipulating the 2023 presidential election.
On September 23, 2026, while speaking with journalists in Abuja, Wike rejected the allegations and questioned how he could have personally manipulated election results across thousands of polling units. Leadership reported that he challenged those making the allegation to provide evidence from polling units or election tribunals. (Leadership)
Voice of Nigeria similarly reported that Wike denied manipulating the election and described the allegations as a narrative largely driven by social media. (Voice of Nigeria)
Punch also reported Wike’s denial, noting that he described the allegations as a “baseless narrative propagated primarily on social media.” (Punch Newspapers)
What Did Wike Actually Say?
Wike acknowledged that the G5 governors had a deliberate political strategy during the 2023 presidential election.
His account was that the group considered Atiku a greater political threat and sought to prevent him from benefiting from the PDP’s strength in the South-South. The strategy, according to Wike, included encouraging support for Peter Obi in some states.
This is different from the viral statement attributed to him.
There is no credible evidence in the reports reviewed that Wike said: “We rigged the 2023 election, yes, we did it, with our full chest, and there is nothing Nigerians can do about it”. The wording in the viral post is not contained in the reports of Wike’s actual comments reviewed for this fact-check.
Conclusion
The claim that Nyesom Wike said: “We rigged the 2023 election, yes, we did it, with our full chest, and there is nothing Nigerians can do about it” is FALSE.
Wike did recently disclose that the G5 governors adopted a political strategy during the 2023 election to limit Atiku Abubakar’s advantage in the South-South, including encouraging support for Peter Obi in some states.
However, this is not the same as the viral quote attributed to him.
Als, Wike has explicitly denied that the G5’s strategy amounted to rigging or manipulating the election.
Based on the credible reports reviewed, the viral statement is not supported by evidence and should not be attributed to Wike.
Sources checked
- Leadership — “2023 Election: Wike Rejects Rigging Claim, Explains G5 Strategy”
- Voice of Nigeria — “FCT Minister Denies Rigging 2023 Polls Against Obi”
- Punch — “Wike rejects election rigging allegations, says G5 strategy outsmarted Atiku”
- TheCable — “Wike: G5 governors let Obi win South-South in 2023 to scuttle Atiku’s chances”
