The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, has said that the political errors made by residents of the territory in the 2023 general elections will not be repeated in 2027, as he called on residents of Bwari Area Council to support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election bid.
Wike made the declaration on Thursday during an interactive session organized by the Rainbow Coalition, a political platform comprising members of the All Progressives Congress, APC, and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Bwari.
The meeting, which drew party leaders, traditional rulers, women groups and youth stakeholders, was part of early political mobilization activities ahead of the 2027 general elections.
At the event, the Minister also endorsed former FCT Senator, Philip Aduda, and a former Chairman of Bwari Area Council, John Gabaya, as preferred candidates under the Rainbow Coalition arrangement. He equally referenced the incumbent Chairman of Bwari Area Council, Joshua, and former PDP Chairmanship candidate, Julius Adamu.
Wike warned residents against what he described as political gamblers, stating that the development strides currently witnessed across the six Area Councils of the FCT should inform voters’ decisions in 2027.
“The mistake we made in 2023, would we make that mistake again? If it was an error, would we make that error again?” Wike asked the crowd, to which the gathering responded in the negative.
According to the Minister, the Rainbow Coalition was formed to bridge partisan divides and unite political actors across party lines for the collective interest of FCT residents. He maintained that political parties should be seen as vehicles to attain power, after which governance should focus on the people.
“It doesn’t matter the party. After all, party is a vehicle that conveys you to where you are going. When you get there, you come down from the vehicle and you now work for the interest of the people,” he said.
Wike urged residents to evaluate political representatives based on accessibility, visibility and responsiveness to community needs. He questioned whether residents felt the impact of the current Senator representing the FCT, Ireti Kingibe, asking if she had engaged traditional institutions, women and youth groups to understand their challenges.
“Today, the people of FCT, do you feel the impact? Do you feel the presence of the senator representing FCT today?” he asked.
Introducing Senator Aduda to the audience, Wike described him as a grassroots politician who understands the peculiar challenges of FCT communities.
“So, I am here today to present to you your own son. The man who understands when you are sleeping. The man who knows when you are crying. The man who knows when Gombe people are in need. Senator Philip Aduda,” Wike said.
The FCT Minister anchored his support for President Tinubu on what he described as presidential backing for infrastructure and administrative reforms in the territory. He noted that many projects in the FCT have been made possible because of the President’s approval and support.
“All these things are being done because somebody is responsible. If the person does not agree with the minister doing anything, nothing will happen,” he said.
On infrastructure, Wike assured residents that the Gombe-Kubwa road will be completed before the end of the year. He told residents to expect to use the road during the festive period.
“Let me authoritatively tell you today, by the grace of God, this December, you will do Christmas on this road, Gombe to Kubwa,” he assured.
The Minister also disclosed that as part of political negotiations within the coalition, the PDP Chairmanship candidate in the last Area Council election, Julius Adamu, stepped down for the APC candidate, Joshua, who is now Chairman of Bwari Area Council. Wike described the action as a sacrifice for unity and collective interest.
He said the gesture was aimed at strengthening the Rainbow Coalition and consolidating support for President Tinubu ahead of 2027, adding that he would recommend Adamu for an appointment in the FCT Universal Basic Education Commission.
In her remarks, a women leader from Bwari Area Council, Deborah Ayorinde, commended Wike for intervening in the political affairs of the Council but appealed for sustained attention to Bwari. She described Bwari as one of the most neglected Area Councils in the FCT.
“Among the six Area Councils we have in FCT, Bwari Area Council is the most neglected. Because Bwari Area Council has been marginalised for long. Your arrival reawakens our hope,” Ayorinde said.
She cited the scriptural saying that the people rejoice when the righteous are in authority, noting that residents were encouraged by the Minister’s involvement.
“The Bible that I believe says, when the righteous person is in power, the people rejoice. We are rejoicing because we have you as our father,” she said.
She appealed to Wike to support the Council to ensure a smooth electoral process and expressed confidence that residents would back President Tinubu in 2027.
Also speaking, the FCT Chairman of the APC, Tanko Yamawo, praised Wike for fostering unity among politicians across party lines. He recalled that in the past, partisan rivalry prevented members of opposing parties from openly associating, citing an instance where a PDP chairman declined to enter his car for fear of losing his position.
He said the emergence of the Rainbow Coalition has changed that dynamic.
“What you have done today is not for Aduda, Gabaya and Chiya to benefit, but all of us as politicians in FCT are going to benefit from what you have started today,” Yamawo said.
On his part, the FCT Chairman of the PDP, Ismaila Dogara, said the coalition has come to stay and that members of the party have embraced it as a platform to support President Tinubu. He urged Wike to convey the expectations of FCT residents to the President.
Traditional rulers present at the session also commended the FCT Administration for ongoing projects while requesting additional interventions.
The Sarkin Bwari, Alhaji Awwal Musa Ijakoro II, lauded the administration for water and road projects around Tokulo, Ushafa and the Bwari-Zuba axis, but appealed for rehabilitation of the road linking the Army Checkpoint to central Bwari.
Similarly, the Esu of Bwari, Dr. Ibrahim Yaro, acknowledged ongoing infrastructure efforts and called for attention to roads connecting Karu, Mpape and other adjoining communities.
In his welcome address, the Chairman of Bwari Area Council, Joshua, thanked Wike for his support during the Area Council elections, noting that residents responded positively when the Minister asked them to back his candidacy. He said ongoing projects across the FCT have boosted public confidence.
The interactive session is part of a series of engagements by the Rainbow Coalition to mobilize grassroots support across the FCT ahead of the 2027 general elections.
