Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike has said his support for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election in 2027 is non-negotiable, stressing that he never promised the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) would not field candidates in other elections.
Wike said his support was specifically for Tinubu’s presidential bid and should not be interpreted as an agreement by opposition parties to surrender gubernatorial, National Assembly or State House of Assembly contests.
The minister made the remarks in a statement on Tuesday, delivered through his Senior Special Assistant (SSA) on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka, amid growing political realignments ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Clarification
He also clarified that the emerging “rainbow coalition” had nothing to do with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), describing it as a platform for members of different political parties to mobilise support for Tinubu’s re-election.
Wike recalled that he and other members of the G5 did not meet with the APC before supporting Tinubu in the 2023 presidential election.
He said the same principle would guide his position in 2027, adding that his support was for the President and not necessarily for the APC in other electoral contests.
“I will mobilise support for the re-election of the President. I never promised anyone that PDP will not field candidates to contest governorship, National Assembly and State House of Assembly elections,” he said.
According to him, political contests in the states should be treated separately from the presidential election because “politics is local.”
No Plan To Assist Politicians
Wike said he would not assist politicians to win elections in their respective states, urging those facing political difficulties at home to resolve them rather than use Tinubu’s re-election to stir sentiments.
He cited the outcome of the 2023 elections in the Southeast to argue that voters could support different parties in presidential and legislative elections held on the same day.
He asked how the APC won two senatorial seats in Imo State in 2023, despite recording less than 15 per cent in the state’s presidential election.
He also cited the APC’s victories in National Assembly elections in Ebonyi, Abia and Enugu, where, he noted, Tinubu did not secure 10 per cent of the presidential votes.
“Was it a rainbow coalition? Were the voters confused?” Wike asked.
He argued that voters who supported different parties in the 2023 presidential and legislative elections could repeat the pattern in 2027 while genuinely supporting Tinubu for a second term.
The FCT Minister urged political stakeholders to prioritise the presidential election, saying other political battles could be fought after Tinubu’s re-election.
“After the President has been re-elected, we can all go and face elections in our States,” he said.
Wike also dismissed the idea that political calculations for 2027 should be based on past electoral standings, insisting that victory would depend on genuine mobilisation and support at the polling units.
He said, “Politics is no longer about coming from fourth position to be governor; it is about genuinely mobilising support and winning elections from the polling units.”
The minister’s position comes amid renewed political realignments ahead of the 2027 elections, with politicians and opposition figures exploring alliances and coalitions as parties begin positioning for presidential and sub-national contests.
Credit: thenationonlineng.net
