The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, has declared that he will coordinate President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election campaign in both the FCT and Rivers State ahead of the 2027 general election.
Wike made the declaration on Monday in Abuja at a stakeholders’ meeting of the Rainbow Coalition, a cross-party platform comprising leaders of the All Progressives Congress, APC, and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
Addressing party chairmen, serving and former senators, National Assembly candidates and leaders from the six area councils of the FCT, the minister said political differences would not stop both parties from working for a common presidential goal.
“For the presidency, all of us have agreed that it is Bola Ahmed 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.”
According to Wike, the coalition has agreed to support President Tinubu’s re-election as well as APC Senatorial and House of Representatives candidates in the FCT.
In a major political development, PDP candidates for the National Assembly at the meeting openly declared support for APC candidates for the 2027 polls.
Wike said the meeting was convened to create a common political front ahead of 2027 and to ensure all stakeholders understand the objective, regardless of their party affiliation.
“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 former Rivers State governor cited the 2024 Edo State governorship election as proof that strategic coalitions can decide elections, claiming that cooperation between APC and PDP elements prevented the incumbent from installing a successor.
He clarified that the Rainbow Coalition arrangement is primarily for the presidential election, while parties can decide their positions on other contests.
Making a case for Tinubu’s re-election, Wike challenged leaders to name any of the six area councils that has not benefited from the current administration’s projects.
He listed the establishment of the FCT Civil Service Commission, the appointment of an FCT Head of Service from within the workforce, and the creation of the Women Affairs and Youth Development Secretariats as key institutional reforms.
On infrastructure, he cited road construction and rehabilitation, school renovations, police stations and other public facilities across the territory.
Wike said the administration’s performance would be the major tool for mobilizing FCT residents in 2027.
Defending Tinubu’s economic reforms, the minister admitted there has been temporary hardship but insisted tough decisions were necessary to fix the economy.
“Changing the economy of a country is not like a prayer,” he said, adding that the benefits of reforms may not be immediate.
He also declared support for the establishment of state police, describing it as crucial to tackling insecurity in the country.
