I Won’t Help Politicians Win Elections In Their States – Wike   

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has said his political priority ahead of the 2027 general elections is to mobilise support for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election, rather than help politicians secure victories in their respective states.

Wike made the clarification in a statement issued on Tuesday by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka.

The minister reaffirmed his backing for Tinubu’s second-term bid but said he never gave any assurance that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) would refrain from fielding candidates for governorship, National Assembly and State House of Assembly elections.

He advised politicians experiencing political difficulties in their states to address such issues at the state level instead of linking them to the President’s re-election campaign.

“I won’t be the one to help people to win elections in their states. Politics is local, and those having problems in their states should resolve them instead of using the re-election of the President to whip up sentiments,” Wike said.

The FCT minister also dismissed suggestions that the rainbow coalition was affiliated with the All Progressives Congress (APC).

He explained that the coalition comprised politicians from various parties who had chosen to support Tinubu based on their assessment of his performance and their desire to see him return to office in 2027.

“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,” Wike said.

Wike recalled that he and other members of the G5 backed Tinubu during the 2023 presidential election without holding prior discussions with the APC.

He said the same principle would guide his position in 2027, stressing that his objective was to support Tinubu’s presidential bid and not dictate which party should emerge victorious in state elections.

According to the minister, political parties and candidates seeking electoral victories must build their support from the grassroots.

He argued that electoral success could no longer be achieved solely through political calculations or by relying on influence from outside a state.

Wike cited the 2023 elections in Imo, Abia, Enugu and Ebonyi states, where voters backed different political parties in presidential and legislative contests, as evidence that electorates could make distinct choices at different levels.

He questioned how the APC secured two senatorial seats in Imo State in 2023 despite receiving less than 15 per cent of the presidential votes in the state.

He also referenced APC victories in National Assembly elections in Ebonyi, Abia and Enugu, despite the party recording less than 10 per cent of the presidential votes in some of the states.

“The results showed that voters were capable of separating presidential and state-level elections,” he said.

Wike urged political actors to prioritise Tinubu’s presidential re-election before turning their attention to other electoral contests.

“After the President must have been re-elected, we can all go and face elections in our states,” he said.

He further stressed that his support for Tinubu would not prevent other political parties from participating in governorship and legislative elections.

“What I said and stand for is that I will mobilise support for the re-election of the President. I never promised anyone that PDP will not field candidates to contest governorship, National Assembly and State House of Assembly elections,” he said.