Nigeria's Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has stated that his immediate political priority is supporting President Bola Tinubu's bid for re-election in the 2027 presidential election. Wike made this statement in Abuja while speaking with journalists after inspecting ongoing road projects across the FCT. He emphasized that his primary concern is ensuring Tinubu's re-election for a second term.
Wike's comments come amid growing debate over the Rainbow Coalition, a cross-party platform he has described as a vehicle for mobilizing support for Tinubu across political parties. The minister dismissed claims that the coalition was created to destabilize existing political parties, describing such allegations as baseless. According to Wike, the coalition brings together people from different political platforms who support Tinubu's administration and want to mobilize support for his 2027 re-election.
Wike questioned claims that the Rainbow Coalition could undermine political parties, stating that it had not asked anyone to abandon their political party or stop supporting other candidates in elections. He added that the coalition's focus is on mobilizing support for Tinubu in the presidential contest. The minister also referenced the G5 governors' role in the 2023 presidential election, questioning why similar concerns about political destabilization were not raised at the time.
The G5 governors provided some political advantage in the 2023 election, but Wike argued that this did not explain the current criticism of the Rainbow Coalition. He acknowledged that there are undertones to the criticism, which he planned to address on TVC later on Monday. Wike also dismissed speculation that his current political activities were aimed at positioning himself for the 2031 presidential election.
Wike recalled that he contested the Peoples Democratic Party presidential primary in 2022 and finished as the runner-up, saying the experience had exposed him to the complexities of Nigerian politics. He also said Tinubu would have an interest in who succeeds him when the time comes, adding that he would not position himself against the President's interests. By 2031, Wike said Tinubu would not run and would have an interest in who succeeds him.
On the FCT projects, Wike expressed satisfaction with the pace and quality of work, saying contractors had committed to completing several projects before the 2027 general elections. He inspected the ongoing construction of the Inner Southern Expressway and the service lanes of the Southern Parkway, commending the contractors for the quality of work.
The Rainbow Coalition has continued to generate debate within the political space, with Wike maintaining that it is separate from the APC and intended to mobilize support for Tinubu across party lines. Some APC governors and party stakeholders have raised concerns about the possible impact of parallel political structures on the party. Wike's stance on the coalition and Tinubu's re-election bid has sparked mixed reactions among Nigerians.
Key points
- Wike prioritizes Tinubu's 2027 re-election bid.
- The Rainbow Coalition aims to mobilize support for Tinubu across party lines.
- Wike dismisses speculation about his 2031 presidential ambitions.
