Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has challenged governors and members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council to ensure that President Bola Tinubu wins their respective states in the 2027 general elections.
Wike warned that campaign council members should not claim victory if they failed to deliver their states for the president, insisting that securing Tinubu’s re-election should be their primary responsibility.
He spoke on Wednesday during the inauguration of the APC Presidential Campaign Council in Abuja, where he was appointed coordinator for Rivers State and the FCT.
“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.
Emphasising the importance of winning Lagos State, the minister added: “I told the Chief of Staff to the President, if the president doesn’t win in Lagos, don’t say we’ve won.”
Wike, however, expressed confidence that Rivers State and the FCT would record substantial votes for Tinubu in the next presidential election.
“By the grace of God, Rivers and FCT will vote massively for Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” he declared.
The minister also commended Anambra State Governor, Chukwuma Soludo, and Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, for attending the inauguration, describing their presence as a reflection of the support Tinubu was receiving across party lines.
Wike further defended the Tinubu administration, arguing that successive governments had identified Nigeria’s challenges without adequately addressing them.
He maintained that democracy required an opposition that could identify problems and offer solutions rather than criticise the government simply because it was in power.
‘I am the leader of PDP’
Speaking on his position in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Wike asserted that he remained the party’s leader.
“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 FCT minister also challenged area council officials in Abuja to dispute his claim that Tinubu’s administration had made an impact on the territory.
“I challenge any area council that can say they don’t feel the impact of Mr President in Abuja,” he added.
Wike’s remarks came as the APC intensified preparations for the 2027 presidential election, with politicians from different parties participating in activities supporting Tinubu’s re-election bid.
