Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Nyesom Wike has declared himself the field operations commander for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election campaign in the FCT, saying he will also coordinate campaign activities in Rivers State ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Wike made the declaration on Monday at a Rainbow Coalition stakeholders’ meeting in Abuja, where he announced a political mobilisation arrangement involving members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The meeting focused on building support for Tinubu’s re-election and the election of APC candidates to the National Assembly.
According to Wike, PDP National Assembly candidates in the FCT had agreed to support their APC counterparts as part of the coalition’s strategy for the coming elections.
“For the Presidency, all of us have agreed that it is Bola Ahmed Tinubu. I will coordinate the FCT and Rivers State. So you can imagine how important it is,” the minister said.
He added: “I am in charge of the FCT election. I am the commander of field operations as far as the FCT election is concerned.”
Wike Calls for Cross-Party Cooperation
Wike said the coalition was designed to bring political stakeholders together behind a common objective, regardless of their party affiliations.
He urged participants to set aside their differences for the presidential contest, arguing that cooperation would be central to the group’s mobilisation strategy.
“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 this election, we are together,” he said.
The gathering brought together APC and PDP representatives, including party chairmen, serving and former senators, National Assembly candidates and political leaders from the FCT’s six area councils.
Wike cited the 2024 Edo State governorship election as an example of how political cooperation could affect electoral outcomes. He claimed that collaboration involving elements of the APC and PDP had helped prevent the incumbent governor from installing a preferred successor.
However, the minister said the coalition’s arrangement was primarily concerned with the presidential election, leaving participating parties to decide their positions on other contests.
Minister Highlights Tinubu Administration’s FCT Projects
To make the case for Tinubu’s re-election, Wike challenged political leaders to identify any of the FCT’s six area councils that had not benefited from infrastructure projects or institutional reforms 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.
According to Wike, the measures had expanded opportunities for career advancement among civil servants and increased participation in governance.
He also listed road construction and rehabilitation, school renovations, police stations and other public facilities among projects being undertaken across the territory.
The minister argued that the administration’s record in the FCT could help persuade residents to support Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election.
Wike Defends Economic Reforms, Supports State Police
Wike acknowledged that some of the Federal Government’s economic policies had created hardship but maintained that difficult decisions were necessary to address longstanding economic challenges.
“Changing the economy of a country is not like a prayer,” he said, arguing that the benefits of reforms might take time to become evident.
He also expressed support for the proposed establishment of state police, describing it as an important measure that could help address Nigeria’s security challenges.
The meeting forms part of political mobilisation efforts ahead of the 2027 general elections. Wike’s declaration outlines his intended role in the FCT and Rivers State campaigns, while the coalition’s eventual electoral impact remains to be determined….Read more