Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has clarified that his support for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election in 2027 does not extend to preventing the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from fielding candidates in other elections. Wike said his support was specifically for Tinubu’s presidential bid, while the PDP……
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has clarified that his support for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election in 2027 does not extend to preventing the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from fielding candidates in other elections.
Wike said his support was specifically for Tinubu’s presidential bid, while the PDP remained free to contest governorship, National Assembly and State House of Assembly elections.
The minister made the clarification in a statement issued on Tuesday by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka.
Wike also dismissed suggestions that the so-called rainbow coalition was affiliated with the All Progressives Congress (APC), describing it as a platform for individuals and political parties supporting Tinubu’s re-election.
He said he never held discussions with the APC before he and other members of the G5 supported Tinubu in the 2023 presidential election.
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The minister said his position for 2027 remained unchanged, stressing that his commitment was to mobilise support for Tinubu.
“What I said and stand for is that I will mobilise support for the reelection of the President. I never promised anyone that PDP will not field candidates to contest governorship, National Assembly and States House of Assembly elections,” he said.
Wike also rejected the argument that supporting Tinubu would prevent voters from backing candidates of other parties in legislative and state elections.
He cited the 2023 elections in Imo, Abia, Enugu and Ebonyi states, where APC candidates won some National Assembly seats despite Tinubu recording significantly lower votes in the presidential election.
“In Imo State under Governor Hope Uzodinma, how did APC win two senate seats in 2023, in an election held the same day with that of the President and APC had less than 15 percent in the presidential election? Was it rainbow coalition? Were the voters confused?” he asked.
“Was it rainbow coalition that also made APC to win National Assembly elections in Ebonyi, Abia and Enugu States where the President did not have ten percent of the votes?”
Wike argued that voters could support Tinubu for president while choosing candidates from other political parties in state and legislative elections.
“If in 2023, the voters in Imo, Abia, Enugu and Ebonyi voted APC in the Senatorial election and voted another party in the presidential election, they won’t be confused in 2027 provided we all support the president genuinely this time?” he said.
The FCT minister said political stakeholders should prioritise Tinubu’s presidential election before turning their attention to contests in their respective states.
“After the President must have been reelected, we can all go and face elections in our States,” he said.
Wike also said he would not be responsible for helping politicians secure electoral victories in their respective states, urging those facing political challenges to resolve them locally.
He said “politics is local” and that politicians should not use Tinubu’s re-election bid to “whip up sentiments”.
On the coalition, Wike stressed that it was separate from the APC and was instead aimed at mobilising support for Tinubu across political parties.
“Most importantly, rainbow coalition has nothing to do with the APC. Rather, it is own way of mobilising support accross political parties for Mr President, who has done well to deserve a second term,” he said.vic
