The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has cautioned governors and other members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council against taking credit for victory in the 2027 presidential election if they fail to secure support for President Bola Tinubu in their respective states.
Wike made the remarks on Wednesday in Abuja during the inauguration of the APC Presidential Campaign Council, where he was appointed coordinator for the FCT and Rivers State.
He stressed that the primary responsibility of every member of the council was to work towards Tinubu’s re-election, regardless of their position within the campaign structure.
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According to him, campaign officials should focus on delivering electoral results rather than the titles or positions they hold.
“If you don’t deliver your states and the president wins, don’t say we’ve won. It’s not a question of whether I am chairman, secretary or member of this. What is important is for the president to win,” Wike said.
He also cited Lagos State as an example while recounting a conversation with the President’s Chief of Staff.
“I told the Chief of Staff to the President, if the president doesn’t win in Lagos, don’t say we’ve won,” he added.
Wike expressed confidence that Tinubu would receive substantial support in Rivers State and the FCT, pledging to mobilise voters in both locations.
“By the grace of God, Rivers and FCT will vote massively for Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” he said.
The minister also acknowledged the attendance of Anambra State Governor Chukwuma Soludo and Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke at the event, describing their presence as a reflection of the support he said Tinubu was attracting ahead of the election.
Defending the administration’s performance, Wike argued that successive governments had recognised Nigeria’s challenges but had failed to address them effectively.
He also maintained that a functioning democracy required an opposition that offered constructive criticism and drew attention to issues requiring government intervention, rather than opposing the administration simply because it was in power.
Despite his involvement in the APC presidential campaign structure, Wike also reaffirmed his position within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), insisting that he remained the party’s leader.
“As an opposition party member, as the leader of the Peoples Democratic Party, there are no two leaders of the PDP. I am the leader,” he declared.
The FCT minister further challenged officials of the territory’s area councils to dispute his assessment of the impact of Tinubu’s administration on Abuja.
“I challenge any area council that can say they don’t feel the impact of Mr President in Abuja,” Wike said.
