Wike Pledges FCT UBEC Job For Ex-PDP Candidate Who Stepped Down For APC

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has promised to recommend Julius Adamu, a former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chairmanship candidate in Bwari Area Council, to President Bola Tinubu for appointment as chairman of the FCT Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC).

Wike made the pledge during a town hall interactive meeting in Bwari last week, in recognition of Adamu’s decision to step down from the area council chairmanship race in favour of the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate ahead of the February 2026 election.

In a video posted on Monday on the X handle of his media aide, Lere Olayinka, the minister described Adamu as a formidable candidate, adding that he had agreed to withdraw from the contest following consultations with political leaders.

LEADERSHIP reports that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Joshua Ishaku of the APC winner of the Bwari Area Council chairmanship election conducted across the council’s 10 wards in February 2026.

Ishaku secured 18,466 votes to defeat his opponents.

Speaking at the meeting, Wike, who coordinates the APC Presidential Campaign Council in the FCT, said he did not know Adamu until the last area council election but acknowledged his political strength.

Wike said he persuaded Adamu to step down in support of Ishaku as part of efforts to strengthen the APC and secure victory for President Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election.

“Where is Julius? Come. Let me tell you why I tell you that it’s good to be humble. It’s good to obey your people. I never knew this young man until the last area council election, and he was a very formidable candidate, very formidable.

“But when I sat down with leadership, we agreed on Joshua, and I called him. I said, ‘Look, for the sake of what we are doing, planning for the next year’s election for Mr President, can you please step down so that we can have a free election?’”

According to the minister, Adamu immediately accepted the request, saying he was willing to support any decision that would serve the interests of Bwari residents and unite the team working for Tinubu’s re-election.

Wike also recounted how Adamu asked him to speak with his father, who reportedly endorsed his son’s decision to withdraw from the race and support Ishaku.

“He did not waste time. He said, ‘Sir, anything you tell me to do, as far as it’s for the interest of the people of Bwari, as far as it will unite the team of Bola Ahmed Tinubu, I’m ready to do it.’

“Instantly, he stepped down, and he said, ‘Please do me a favour; call my father.’ And I called his father, and the father said, ‘My son, I have seen what you are doing in Bwari; I hand him over to you. Anything you tell him to do, he will do it.

“Now you have told him to stand down, and I know he has done that before you. But let me say before you now; he will not run that election. He will support Joshua,’” Wike quoted Adamu’s father as saying.

Announcing his decision to recommend Adamu for the appointment, the minister said he would forward his name to the President immediately after leaving the meeting.

“Let me say here today, immediately I leave here, I will send this name to Mr President for an appointment. He will be the man I will recommend to Mr President for him to be in charge of FCT UBEC,” Wike said.

Footage from the event showed Adamu going down on his knees to thank the minister following the announcement, while other supporters, including men and women in the crowd, approached Wike to express their excitement.

The FCT minister further assured Bwari residents of Tinubu’s commitment to their welfare, urging them to support the President and other APC candidates seeking elective offices in the 2027 general elections.

“So please, I have said anything that will make you happy; that is always what Mr President stands for,” he said.

Wike also cautioned residents against listening to opposition politicians, whom he described as political gamblers, insisting that the APC would continue working with Tinubu because of what he said the President was doing for Bwari.

“You see? I will say this again; don’t listen to political gamblers. Don’t listen to political kalukalu people. We are going to work with the President because we have seen what he’s doing for Bwari. We have seen that the President means well for you,” he added