2027: Wike Declares Self Tinubu’s Campaign Commander in FCT, Rivers

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has declared himself the field commander of President Bola Tinubu’s re-election campaign in the FCT and Rivers State ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Wike made the declaration on Monday at a stakeholders’ meeting of the Rainbow Coalition in Abuja, where political figures from the All Progressives Congress and the Peoples Democratic Party discussed plans to work together in support of Tinubu’s second-term bid.

“I am going to coordinate the FCT and Rivers State. So you can imagine how important it is,” the minister said.

“I am in charge of the FCT election. I am the commander of field operations as far as the FCT election is concerned.”

The meeting also witnessed PDP candidates contesting National Assembly seats in the FCT publicly declaring support for their APC counterparts, signalling cooperation between members of the two parties ahead of the polls.

Wike urged participants to set aside their party affiliations for the presidential contest, insisting that their shared objective should take priority over political differences.

The former Rivers State governor cited the 2024 Edo State governorship election as an example of how cooperation between political groups could influence electoral contests.

He, however, clarified that the coalition’s arrangement was primarily focused on the presidential election, leaving participating parties to determine their positions on other contests.

Making a case for Tinubu’s re-election, Wike pointed to infrastructure projects and administrative reforms in the FCT, including road construction, school renovations and the establishment of new government institutions.

He argued that the projects and reforms should form part of the administration’s record as voters assess its performance ahead of the 2027 election.

The minister also defended Tinubu’s economic policies, acknowledging that some reforms had caused hardship for Nigerians but maintaining that difficult decisions were necessary to address longstanding economic challenges.

On security, Wike expressed support for the proposed establishment of state police, describing it as a potential measure for addressing the country’s security challenges.

His declaration adds to political manoeuvring ahead of the 2027 elections, with party leaders and political coalitions beginning to outline their strategies for the presidential contest.