Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has declared himself coordinator of President Bola Tinubu’s re-election campaign in the FCT and Rivers State ahead of the 2027 general elections. Wike made the announcement at a stakeholders’ meeting of the Rainbow Coalition in Abuja, where members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) discussed a cross-party mobilisation strategy in support of Tinubu and APC candidates in the FCT.
Key Highlights
- Wike declares himself Tinubu’s campaign coordinator in the FCT and Rivers State ahead of the 2027 elections.
- PDP and APC stakeholders at a Rainbow Coalition meeting in Abuja pledged support for Tinubu’s re-election bid.
- The coalition is also backing APC candidates for FCT Senate and House of Representatives seats.
- Wike urged political stakeholders to set aside party affiliations to work towards the coalition’s presidential election objective.
- The FCT minister defended Tinubu’s economic reforms, arguing that their benefits could take time to become evident.
- Wike also expressed support for the proposed establishment of state police to address Nigeria’s security challenges.
Wike Leads Cross-Party Mobilisation for Tinubu
Wike announced his campaign coordination role on Monday during the Rainbow Coalition’s stakeholders’ meeting in Abuja. The gathering brought together APC and PDP members, including party chairmen, serving and former senators, National Assembly candidates and political leaders from the FCT’s six area councils.
The meeting featured declarations of support by PDP National Assembly candidates for APC candidates in the FCT, pointing to a political alliance that crosses party lines.
Wike said coalition members had agreed to work towards Tinubu’s re-election while supporting APC candidates contesting FCT senatorial and House of Representatives seats.
“For the presidency, all of us have agreed that it is Bola Tinubu. I am going to coordinate the FCT and Rivers State. So, you can imagine how important it is,” Wike said.
“I am in charge of the FCT election. I am the commander of field operations as far as the FCT election is concerned.”
The minister’s declaration signals his intention to play a prominent role in mobilising political support for Tinubu in the two states ahead of the 2027 polls.
Wike Urges APC, PDP Members to Work Together
Wike urged members of the coalition to prioritise their shared presidential election objective over their respective party affiliations.
He maintained that stakeholders should cooperate during the campaign despite belonging to different political parties.
“I want to let all of you know that we are going to work together. Nobody should say, I am PDP, or I am APC. For the purpose of these elections, we are together,” he said.
The minister cited the 2024 Edo State governorship election as an example of how political alliances could shape electoral contests. He claimed that cooperation between elements of the APC and PDP helped prevent the incumbent governor from installing a successor.
Wike, however, clarified that the coalition’s main objective was the presidential election, leaving participating parties to determine their positions on other contests.
FCT Infrastructure Projects Feature in Tinubu Re-election Argument
Making a case for Tinubu’s second term, Wike challenged political leaders to identify any of the FCT’s six area councils that had not benefited from infrastructure projects and institutional reforms under the current administration.
He expressed confidence that the projects and reforms would provide a basis for mobilising support for the president ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The minister’s remarks placed infrastructure development and government performance at the centre of the coalition’s argument for Tinubu’s re-election.
Read also:
- Wike’s Rainbow Coalition Crucial To Tinubu’s Victory In 2027 – Ex-IYC President
- 2027: APC Governors Reject Wike’s ‘Rainbow Coalition’, Back Party Unity
- Rivers 2027: ADC Chieftain Accuses Wike of Undermining Kingsley Chinda’s Governorship Ambition
Wike Defends Tinubu’s Economic Reforms
Wike also defended the economic reforms introduced by the Tinubu administration, acknowledging that some policies had imposed temporary hardship on Nigerians.
He argued, however, that difficult decisions were necessary to address longstanding economic challenges and that the benefits of the reforms might not become immediately apparent.
“Changing the economy of a country is not like a prayer,” he said.
His comments come amid continuing public debate over the effects of the administration’s economic policies, including the removal of petrol subsidies and the broader cost-of-living pressures facing households.
FCT Minister Backs State Police Proposal
Wike also expressed support for the proposed establishment of state police, describing it as an important measure for tackling Nigeria’s security challenges.
The proposal has featured prominently in national discussions on security sector reform, with advocates arguing that state-level policing could improve responses to local threats.
The minister’s position adds security reform to the policy issues raised at the Rainbow Coalition meeting as political groups prepare for the 2027 elections.
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