Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has reaffirmed his support for the re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027, stressing that his position remains unchanged.
Wike, however, clarified that he never promised that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) would not field candidates for governorship, National Assembly and State House of Assembly elections.
The minister stated this in a statement issued on Tuesday by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka.
Wike also clarified that the “rainbow coalition” supporting President Tinubu’s re-election had no connection with the All Progressives Congress (APC), describing it as a platform through which members of different political parties could mobilise support for the President.
According to him, his support in 2027 is specifically for Tinubu and should not be interpreted as an undertaking to help politicians secure electoral victories in their respective states.
He said, “Politics is local and those having problems in their States should resolve them instead of using the re-election of the President to whip up sentiments.”
Wike recalled that he and other members of the G5 did not meet with the APC before supporting Tinubu in the 2023 presidential election.
He maintained that his position for 2027 remains focused on mobilising support for the President.
The FCT minister argued that electoral politics should be based on genuine grassroots mobilisation and winning votes at polling units rather than relying on political arrangements.
He cited the 2023 elections in Imo, Abia, Enugu and Ebonyi states as examples of voters supporting different parties at different levels of the election.
Wike asked how the APC won two senatorial seats in Imo State in 2023, despite securing less than 15 per cent of the presidential votes in the state.
He also questioned whether the same voting pattern in which voters backed the APC in National Assembly elections but supported another party in the presidential election could be repeated in 2027.
“If in 2023, the voters in Imo, Abia, Enugu and Ebonyi voted APC in the Senatorial election and voted for another party in the presidential election, they won’t be confused in 2027 provided we all support the President genuinely this time?” he asked.
Wike urged political stakeholders to prioritise Tinubu’s presidential re-election before turning their attention to state-level contests.
“After the President must have been reelected, we can all go and face elections in our States,” he said.
He added: “What I said and stand for is that I will mobilise support for the re-election of the President. I never promised anyone that PDP will not field candidates to contest governorship, National Assembly and States House of Assembly elections.
“Most importantly, rainbow coalition has nothing to do with the APC. Rather, it is our way of mobilising support across political parties for Mr President, who has done well to deserve a second term.”
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