The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has warned governors and other members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council against claiming victory in the 2027 presidential election if they fail to deliver their respective states for President Bola Tinubu.
Wike issued the warning on Wednesday in Abuja during the inauguration of the APC Presidential Campaign Council, where he was appointed coordinator for the FCT and Rivers State.
He stressed that the primary responsibility of every member of the council was to secure Tinubu’s re-election, regardless of their position within the campaign structure.
“I want to say, if you don’t deliver your states and the president wins, don’t say we’ve won. It’s not a question of whether I am chairman, secretary or member of this. What is important is for the president to win,” Wike said.
The FCT minister further underscored the importance of electoral performance at the state level, citing Lagos as an example.
“I told the Chief of Staff to the President, if the president doesn’t win in Lagos, don’t say we’ve won,” he added.
Wike pledged to mobilise massive support for Tinubu in Rivers State and the FCT ahead of the 2027 general election.
“By the grace of God, Rivers and FCT will vote massively for Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” he declared.
He also commended Anambra State Governor Chukwuma Soludo and Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke for attending the inauguration, describing their presence as indicative of the support Tinubu was receiving ahead of the election.
Defending the Tinubu administration, Wike argued that previous governments had recognised Nigeria’s challenges but failed to implement the necessary solutions.
He also maintained that a functional democracy required an opposition capable of identifying genuine problems and offering constructive criticism, rather than opposing the government simply because it was in power.
Addressing his position within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Wike reaffirmed his claim to the party’s leadership, declaring that there was no ambiguity over who led the opposition party.
“As an opposition party member, as the leader of the Peoples Democratic Party, there are no two leaders of the PDP. I am the leader,” he said.
The minister also challenged officials of the FCT area councils to dispute the impact of Tinubu’s administration on the territory.
“I challenge any area council that can say they don’t feel the impact of Mr President in Abuja,” Wike said.
His remarks come as political parties and their allies begin preparations for the 2027 general election, with the APC seeking to retain the presidency under Tinubu.
