Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has warned coordinators of President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 re-election campaign against claiming victory if they fail to deliver their assigned states, insisting that campaign positions must translate into votes.
Wike, who was named coordinator for Rivers State and the FCT, said campaign officials must take personal responsibility for their electoral performance, regardless of the overall outcome of the presidential election.
Speaking on Wednesday at the inauguration of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Presidential Campaign Council held at the State House Banquet Hall, the minister said no coordinator should hide behind a national victory after failing to secure support for Tinubu in their territory.
“If you don’t deliver your state and the President wins, don’t say we have won. It is not a question of I am chairman of this, I am secretary of this, I am a member of this,” he said.
Wike, a member of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, expressed confidence that Rivers State and the FCT would deliver massive votes for Tinubu in the January 16, 2027, presidential election.
“Simple, there is not too much work for me. It’s Rivers and FCT, and let me say and pledge, by the grace of God, Rivers and FCT will vote massively for Bola Ahmed Tinubu. That is my job,” he said.
The former Rivers State governor also challenged campaign officials to demonstrate the impact of the President’s projects in their respective areas, insisting that those entrusted with the responsibility of mobilising voters must produce results.
“Rivers and FCT, it is taken. I challenge any area council that can say they don’t see the presence of Mr President,” he added.
Citing Lagos State as an example, Wike recalled telling the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, that campaign officials should not celebrate a national victory if the President failed to win the state assigned to them.
“If you don’t win in Lagos, don’t say we have won,” he quoted himself as saying.
Wike also defended his support for Tinubu despite belonging to the opposition PDP, arguing that political differences should not prevent politicians from acknowledging the achievements of the ruling party.
“For me, as an opposition party member, as the leader of the Peoples Democratic Party, there are not two leaders of the PDP.”
“I’m the leader of the PDP, so I speak on behalf of the Peoples Democratic Party,” he said.
The minister said the role of the opposition was to identify areas where the government had fallen short, not to deny its achievements simply because it belonged to a rival political party.
“Democracy allows the opposition to be there to look at things that the ruling party have not concentrated on and say these are the issues you are not tackling.
“Democracy is not that if the ruling party is doing well, because you are in opposition, you say they are not doing well. That is not democracy,” he said.
Wike also praised Tinubu’s political will to address longstanding national challenges, citing the proposed establishment of state police as an example.
He expressed optimism that the proposal would receive legislative approval in the coming months, arguing that previous administrations had recognised the need for state police but failed to establish it.
“By the grace of God, in the next few months, I’m sure that will be passed to have state police in Nigeria. That is leadership,” he said.
The FCT minister further defended the inclusion of opposition politicians in Tinubu’s campaign council, saying the President had indicated that politicians outside the APC who had something to contribute should be accommodated.
