…As PDP National Assembly candidates pledge support for APC counterparts
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Barr. Nyesom Wike, has vowed to deliver the territory and Rivers State for President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election, as Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Assembly candidates in the FCT declared support for their All Progressives Congress (APC) counterparts.
Wike made the declaration on Monday at a stakeholders’ meeting of the Rainbow Coalition in Abuja, where APC and PDP leaders agreed to work together to secure Tinubu’s re-election.
The minister, who described himself as the coordinator of the president’s re-election campaign in the FCT and Rivers State, said he was ready to mobilise political structures across the six area councils to ensure victory for Tinubu.
“For the presidency, all of us have agreed that it is Bola Ahmed Tinubu. I am going to coordinate the FCT and Rivers State. So you can imagine how important it is,” Wike said.
“I am in charge of the FCT election. I am the commander of field operations as far as the FCT election is concerned.”
The meeting was attended by APC and PDP stakeholders, including party chairmen, serving and former senators, National Assembly candidates and political leaders from the six area councils.
A major highlight was the declaration of support for APC candidates by PDP National Assembly candidates, signalling a cross-party alliance ahead of the 2027 elections.
Wike said the meeting was convened to establish a common political front and ensure that party differences did not undermine their shared presidential ambition.
“I want to let all of you know that we are going to work together. Nobody should say, ‘I am PDP’ or ‘I am APC.’ For the purpose of this election, we are together,” he said.
The former Rivers State governor cited the 2024 Edo State governorship election as an example of how political alliances could determine electoral outcomes.
He claimed that cooperation between elements of the APC and PDP contributed to the defeat of the incumbent governor’s succession plan, adding that the experience had demonstrated the effectiveness of strategic political coalitions.
Wike, however, clarified that the alliance was primarily focused on the presidential election, while participating parties could determine their positions on other contests.
Wike lists Tinubu’s achievements
Making a case for Tinubu’s re-election, Wike challenged political leaders to identify any of the six area councils that had not benefited from infrastructure projects and institutional reforms under the administration.
He cited the establishment of the FCT Civil Service Commission, the appointment of a Head of the Civil Service from within the territory’s workforce and the creation of the Women Affairs and Youth Development Secretariats as major achievements.
According to him, the reforms had created opportunities for career advancement among FCT civil servants and expanded participation in governance.
On infrastructure, Wike listed road construction and rehabilitation, school renovations, police stations and other public facilities as evidence of the administration’s commitment to development across the territory.
He expressed confidence that the projects and reforms would provide the coalition with a strong basis for mobilising residents to support Tinubu in 2027.
The minister also defended the president’s economic policies, acknowledging that some measures had imposed temporary hardship on Nigerians but insisting that difficult decisions were necessary to address longstanding economic challenges.
“Changing the economy of a country is not like a prayer,” he said, arguing that the benefits of economic reforms might not be immediate.
On security, Wike expressed support for the proposed establishment of state police, describing it as an important measure for tackling Nigeria’s security challenges.
He urged coalition members to set aside political differences and concentrate on mobilising support for Tinubu’s re-election, insisting that their common presidential objective must take priority over partisan interests.
The minister maintained that coordinated action by APC and PDP stakeholders would strengthen the president’s chances in the FCT and Rivers State in 2027.
