The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has reiterated his support for the re-election of President Bola Tinubu in 2027, saying his backing for the President does not amount to an agreement that other political parties will not field candidates in the elections.
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 said he had never promised that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) would not field candidates for governorship, National Assembly and State House of Assembly elections in 2027.
He said his support was specifically for President Tinubu’s re-election, adding that the political coalition supporting the President was separate from the All Progressives Congress (APC).
According to him, the coalition provides a platform for members of different political parties who support the President’s re-election based on what they consider to be the achievements of his administration.
Wike said he would not be responsible for helping politicians win elections in their respective states, urging those facing political challenges to resolve them at the state level.
“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,” he said.
The Minister recalled that he and other members of the G5 did not negotiate with the APC before supporting President Tinubu in the 2023 presidential election.
He said his position for 2027 remained to mobilise support for the President while allowing political parties to participate in other elections.
Wike cited the outcome of the 2023 elections in Imo, Abia, Enugu and Ebonyi states as examples of voters supporting different political parties in presidential and legislative elections held on the same day.
“In Imo State under Governor Hope Uzodinma, how did APC win two Senate seats in 2023, in an election held the same day as that of the President, when APC had less than 15 per cent in the presidential election?” he asked.
“Was it the Rainbow Coalition? Were the voters confused?”
He also cited the APC’s victories in National Assembly elections in Ebonyi, Abia and Enugu, despite the party recording lower presidential votes in the states.
Wike urged political stakeholders to prioritise the presidential election, saying they could focus on state-level contests after President Tinubu’s re-election.
“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.
He added that the coalition had no formal connection with the APC, describing it instead as an effort to mobilise support across political parties for President Tinubu’s re-election.
