The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has said he will lead President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 re-election campaign in the FCT and Rivers State.
Wike announced this on Friday in Chikuku, Abuja, after inspecting the ongoing Phase Two construction of the Kuje-Gwagwalada road dualisation project.
His declaration comes days after reports that Tinubu was considering assigning him a formal campaign role in the FCT and Rivers, despite his continued membership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Confirming the move, Wike said the campaign structure for both territories was already being assembled.
“Very soon, I will inaugurate the campaign team for Tinubu in the FCT and Rivers State, which I will lead. All elements of the APC are ready, Mr President is ready, we are ready and you can see the enthusiasm,” he said.
He added that supporters of the president from different political platforms had also put their structures in place ahead of the election.
“The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), I believe, is putting itself together for an aggressive campaign. For us who are supporting Mr President from different political platforms, we have put our machinery ready to fully kickstart,” Wike said.
The FCT minister also argued that ongoing infrastructure projects would strengthen Tinubu’s electoral prospects in the territory.
“This is governance, and this is what people expect. It will translate directly into actual votes,” he said.
He dismissed suggestions that any future electoral outcome in the FCT could be attributed to rigging.
“It is very obvious. Nobody will be able to claim rigging in the FCT. The ‘rigging’ is the projects we are delivering, making the people happy,” Wike said.
He also expressed confidence that the projects would benefit other candidates backed by the administration, including former FCT senator Philip Aduda and candidates contesting the territory’s two House of Representatives seats.
Wike’s announcement follows earlier reports that the presidency was working on a separate role for him within Tinubu’s 2027 campaign structure. The reported arrangement is different from the APC’s presidential campaign council, which named former Zamfara State governor Abdulaziz Yari as Director-General.
Wike has previously said he does not need to join the APC or occupy the DG position to mobilise support for Tinubu.
During the project inspection, the minister said adequate funding would be provided to complete the Kuje-Gwagwalada road project by December.
