APC Will Win FCT Area Council Polls Because Of Wike – Fayose

Former governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, has predicted that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) will emerge victorious in the forthcoming Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council elections next month, attributing the anticipated outcome to the influence of the Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike.

Fayose made the assertion during an exclusive interview on ARISE News Channel’s breakfast show on Tuesday, where he argued that Wike’s political strength and performance in office would once again tilt the polls in favour of the APC, just as he claimed it happened during the recent local government elections in Rivers State.

“The local government elections in Rivers, APC won them courtesy of Wike. The local government elections coming in Abuja, APC will still win it,” Fayose said.

According to the former governor, Wike remains a dominant political figure whose relevance transcends party lines, stressing that Nigeria would continue to “need” him in the political space.

“Nigeria will know. We will not get rid of a Wike for a Fubara. He is 100 per cent a gift at this stage of his life,” Fayose remarked, in apparent reference to the political crisis in Rivers State involving the minister’s erstwhile political godson, Governor Siminalayi Fubara.

He further argued that Wike’s political value would endure even after his tenure as FCT minister, describing him as someone who has “done well for himself” and would remain influential.

“Even when he is no more Minister of FCT, Wike is a man that has done well for himself in the political space. You will always need Wike,” Fayose said.

The former Ekiti governor also praised Wike’s performance in Abuja, noting that the minister has effectively aligned himself with President Bola Tinubu’s administration and its ‘Renewed Hope’ agenda.

“Today, you can’t take Wike from Rivers to give support to President Tinubu. Wike is in Abuja performing. We never had it so good in Abuja. Even a blind man can’t deny that,” he said.

Fayose added that it is historically difficult for ruling parties to win elections in the FCT, but maintained that with Wike’s presence that narrative could change in the upcoming FCT Area Council polls slated for February.

“A lot of people know that governments in power don’t often win in Abuja. But like I said, the local government elections in Rivers, APC won them courtesy of Wike. The local government elections coming in Abuja, APC will still win it,” he reiterated.

He concluded by questioning what more President Tinubu’s administration could demand from the former Rivers State governor, given what he described as Wike’s loyalty and performance.

“What else would the government of Tinubu want from Wike?” Fayose rhetorically asked.