The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has declared his intention to coordinate President Bola Tinubu’s re-election campaign in the FCT and Rivers State ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections.
Wike made the declaration on Monday during a stakeholders’ meeting of the Rainbow Coalition in Abuja. The gathering brought together political figures from the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to discuss strategies for securing Tinubu’s return to office.
At the meeting, Wike said participants had agreed to support Tinubu’s presidential ambition, while also working towards the success of APC candidates contesting National Assembly seats in the FCT.
He described himself as the person responsible for coordinating field operations for the president’s campaign in the territory, adding that he would also oversee mobilisation efforts in Rivers State.
The meeting attracted party officials, serving and former senators, National Assembly candidates, political leaders and representatives from the FCT’s six area councils.
Wike urged participants to put aside their party affiliations for the purpose of the presidential election, insisting that members of both parties could cooperate towards achieving their shared political objective.
To support his argument for cross-party collaboration, the former Rivers State governor referred to the 2024 Edo governorship election. He argued that political alliances could influence electoral outcomes when different groups worked towards a common goal.
However, he explained that the coalition’s agreement was mainly centred on the presidential contest, leaving individual parties to decide their positions on other elections.
Wike Highlights Tinubu Administration’s Projects
While canvassing support for Tinubu’s second term, Wike challenged political stakeholders to identify any of the FCT’s six area councils that had not benefited from projects or reforms introduced under the current administration.
He pointed to the establishment of the FCT Civil Service Commission, the appointment of a Head of the Civil Service from within the territory’s workforce, and the creation of the Women Affairs and Youth Development secretariats as examples of the government’s interventions.
According to him, these measures have expanded opportunities for career advancement among civil servants and improved participation in public administration.
The minister also cited road construction and rehabilitation, school renovations, police stations and other public infrastructure projects as reasons residents should consider supporting Tinubu’s re-election bid.
Minister Defends Economic Reforms
Wike also defended the Federal Government’s economic policies, acknowledging that some reforms had created hardship for Nigerians. He nevertheless argued that difficult decisions were necessary to address longstanding economic problems.
He maintained that transforming the country’s economy would take time and that the benefits of government policies might not be felt immediately.
On security, the minister expressed support for the proposed establishment of state police, describing it as a possible measure for tackling Nigeria’s security challenges.
His declaration comes as political parties and their allies begin preparations for the 2027 general elections, with mobilisation and coalition-building expected to play important roles in the campaigns.
