Why APC Included Me In Tinubu’s 2027 Campaign Council — Wike

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has explained why the All Progressives Congress (APC) included politicians who are not members of the party in President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 re-election campaign council.

Wike, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), said the decision was aimed at accommodating individuals from other political parties who were willing to contribute to Tinubu’s re-election bid.

He made the clarification on Tuesday during a media parley in Abuja while reacting to his appointment, alongside Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke and Anambra State Governor Chukwuma Soludo, as state campaign coordinators in the APC’s revised presidential campaign council.

According to Wike, the president’s re-election campaign should not be restricted to APC members, as politicians from other parties could also support his bid to remain in office.

“My thinking is that the president, in his wisdom, said there are those who are not members of our political parties but have something to offer to his re-election, and it’s proper to accommodate them,” he said.

The FCT minister maintained that the APC platform could accommodate individuals from different political backgrounds who were willing to support Tinubu’s second-term ambition.

He argued that the constitutional requirement for presidential candidates to contest through a political party did not prevent people outside that party from supporting their candidacy.

“We have said that the re-election of Mr President should not just be APC, because here is a platform; the constitution does not say an individual can run, you must have a platform, and that platform is APC, which is an umbrella that people will want to use to further their political ambition,” Wike said.

He added that the expanded arrangement reflected a broader coalition of supporters who believed Tinubu should continue in office.

“That gives the holistic view that there are those who are ready for Mr President to be re-elected to continue the good work we think he’s doing for Nigeria, and we’re happy to be part of it,” he said.

Under the revised campaign council arrangement, Wike will coordinate Tinubu’s campaign in Rivers State and the FCT.

Soludo, a member of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), will oversee campaign activities in Anambra State, while Adeleke, who secured re-election as Osun governor under the Accord Party, will coordinate the campaign in Osun State.