By Chibuike Nwabuko
ABUJA (PRECISE POST) – The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has reiterated his unwavering support for the re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027, stressing that his position on the matter remains sacrosanct.
Wike also clarified that he never promised that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) would not field candidates in the governorship, National Assembly and State House of Assembly elections in 2027.
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 said the “rainbow coalition” being promoted by him and other political actors has nothing to do with the All Progressives Congress (APC), but is a platform for members of different political parties who are satisfied with President Tinubu’s performance and are willing to support his re-election.
According to him, he would not allow the presidential election to be used as a means of resolving political disputes in individual states, insisting that “politics is local” and those facing challenges in their respective states should resolve them independently.
The Minister said he never met with the APC before he and other members of the G5 governors supported Tinubu in the 2023 presidential election, stressing that his commitment for 2027 is specifically to the President.
Wike argued that electoral politics should no longer be about the possibility of someone emerging from a distant position to become governor, but about genuine mobilisation of voters and winning elections from the polling units.
He cited the 2023 elections in Imo, Abia, Enugu and Ebonyi states, where, according to him, APC candidates won legislative seats despite the party recording significantly lower presidential votes in some of the states.
He asked: “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?
“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 maintained that the same voting pattern could occur in 2027, provided political stakeholders genuinely mobilise support for Tinubu at the presidential level while allowing voters to make their choices in other elections.
He therefore urged political stakeholders to prioritise Tinubu’s re-election before turning their attention to state and legislative contests.
“After the President must have been reelected, we can all go and face elections in our States,” he said.
The FCT Minister further stressed that his position was not an arrangement to prevent the PDP or any other political party from participating in the 2027 elections.
“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.
“Most importantly, rainbow coalition has nothing to do with the APC. Rather, it is our own way of mobilising support across political parties for Mr President, who has done well to deserve a second term.”
