Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has announced plans to personally lead President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 re-election campaign machinery in the FCT and Rivers State.
Wike disclosed this on Friday in Abuja, declaring that he would soon inaugurate campaign teams for the two territories as political parties intensify preparations for the 2027 elections.
The announcement further defines Wike’s role in the Tinubu re-election project, despite his continued membership of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party.
“Very soon, I will inaugurate the campaign team for Tinubu in the FCT and Rivers, which I will lead,” Wike said.
He added that supporters of the President operating from different political platforms had already put their political machinery in place for the campaign.
“The ruling All Progressives Congress, I believe, is putting itself together for an aggressive campaign. For us who are supporting Mr President from different political platforms, we have put our machinery ready to kick-start,” the minister said.
Wike’s declaration comes after weeks of political manoeuvring over the structure of Tinubu’s 2027 campaign.
The minister had previously ruled out serving as Director-General of Tinubu’s Presidential Campaign Council, explaining that his priority was to concentrate on Rivers and the FCT, which he described as his two political bases.
The APC’s wider presidential campaign structure already has former Governor Abdulaziz Yari as Director-General and Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma as Secretary.
Wike’s role, therefore, is expected to operate alongside the broader national campaign structure rather than replace it. Earlier reports had indicated plans to give him a defined coordinating role in Rivers and the FCT while allowing him to retain his PDP membership.
The FCT Minister has also used his Rainbow Coalition to mobilise support for Tinubu’s re-election, insisting that the coalition is backing the President rather than formally becoming an APC structure.
That position has put Wike at odds with some APC governors, who have raised concerns about parallel political structures ahead of the elections. Wike has rejected their objections and maintained that his coalition is focused on mobilising support for Tinubu.
Speaking after inspecting the ongoing Kuje-Gwagwalada road dualisation project, Wike linked the administration’s infrastructure projects in the FCT to its campaign message.
He argued that visible development would translate into electoral support, dismissing suggestions that votes could be secured through malpractice.
“This is governance, and this is what people expect. It will translate directly into actual votes,” he said.
Wike also said the projects being executed across the FCT would make it difficult for anyone to claim that the President’s support in the territory was based on rigging.
“It is obvious. Nobody will be able to claim rigging in FCT. The ‘rigging’ is the projects we are delivering, making the people happy,” he said.
The minister said adequate funding would be provided to ensure the Kuje-Gwagwalada road project is completed by December.