Nigeria's Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has announced that he will coordinate President Bola Tinubu's re-election campaign in the FCT and Rivers State for the 2027 general election. Wike made this declaration at a stakeholders' meeting of the Rainbow Coalition in Abuja, where politicians from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and All Progressives Congress (APC) agreed to work together to secure Tinubu's second term. This move signals a cross-party alliance ahead of the elections.
The meeting saw PDP National Assembly candidates openly declare support for their APC counterparts, indicating a significant shift in political alliances. Wike, a former Rivers State governor, stated that the coalition had agreed to rally behind Tinubu for the presidency, as well as APC candidates contesting senatorial and House of Representatives seats in the FCT. He emphasized that he would be in charge of the FCT election and the commander of field operations.
Wike urged members of the coalition to set aside their party affiliations and work towards their shared objective, stressing that political differences should not undermine their agreement on the presidential contest. He emphasized the importance of unity, stating that for the purpose of this election, they are together, and nobody should claim to be solely PDP or APC.
The stakeholders' meeting attracted party chairmen, serving and former senators, National Assembly candidates, and political leaders from the FCT's six area councils. Wike clarified that the alliance was primarily focused on the presidential election, allowing participating political parties to determine their positions on other electoral contests.
Wike justified the coalition's strategy by citing the 2024 Edo State governorship election, where cooperation between political interests from the APC and PDP helped shape electoral outcomes. He claimed that this alliance had prevented the incumbent governor from installing a successor, presenting it as evidence that political partnerships could succeed when participants were united by a common objective.
Wike made a case for Tinubu's re-election by highlighting the administration's achievements in the FCT, including infrastructure projects and institutional reforms. He listed the establishment of the FCT Civil Service Commission, the appointment of a Head of the Civil Service from within the territory's workforce, and the creation of the Women Affairs and Youth Development Secretariats as some of the administration's notable achievements.
Wike defended the president's reform policies, acknowledging that some measures had imposed hardship on Nigerians but arguing that difficult decisions were necessary to address long-standing economic challenges. He also endorsed the proposed establishment of state police, describing it as an important step towards addressing Nigeria's security challenges.
Key points
- Wike declares himself Tinubu's campaign coordinator in FCT and Rivers State.
- The Rainbow Coalition brings together politicians from PDP and APC to support Tinubu's re-election.
- Wike highlights the administration's achievements in the FCT to make a case for Tinubu's re-election.
