The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has said his support for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election in 2027 does not extend to helping politicians win governorship and legislative elections in their states.

Wike said the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) remains free to field candidates for governorship, National Assembly and State House of Assembly elections.

He stressed that his commitment is limited to mobilising support for Tinubu.

In a statement on Tuesday by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka, Wike also said the “rainbow coalition” backing Tinubu has no connection with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

“What I said and stand for is that I will mobilise support for the reelection of the President. I never promised anyone that PDP will not field candidates to contest governorship, National Assembly and States House of Assembly elections,” Wike said.

He said his support for Tinubu in 2023 was not based on any agreement with the APC, adding that neither he nor other members of the G5 met with the party before backing the President.

Wike said his position for 2027 was similarly limited to supporting Tinubu and that politicians facing electoral challenges in their states should resolve them themselves.

“I won’t be the one to help people to win elections in their States. Politics is local and those having problems in their States should resolve them instead of using the reelection of the President to whip up sentiments,” he said.

He argued that the 2023 elections showed that voters could support different parties in presidential and legislative elections held on the same day.

Wike cited Imo State, where the APC won two senatorial seats despite securing less than 15 per cent of the presidential vote, as an example of voters making separate choices at different levels.

“In Imo State under Governor Hope Uzodinma, how did APC win two senate seats in 2023, in an election held the same day with that of the President and APC had less than 15 percent in the presidential election? Was it rainbow coalition? Were the voters confused?” he asked.

He also cited APC victories in National Assembly elections in Ebonyi, Abia and Enugu States, where Tinubu secured less than 10 per cent of the presidential votes.

“Was it the rainbow coalition that also made APC to win National Assembly elections in Ebonyi, Abia and Enugu States where the President did not have ten percent of the votes?” he asked.

Wike said voters could repeat that pattern in 2027 by supporting Tinubu for president while voting for candidates from other parties in state and legislative elections.

He urged political actors to focus their efforts on the presidential election before turning their attention to contests in their respective states.

“After the President must have been reelected, we can all go and face elections in our States,” he said.

Wike also rejected the idea that politicians could rely on alliances or previous electoral positions to win office, saying candidates must secure support at the grassroots.

“Politics is no longer about coming from fourth position to be governor, it is about genuinely mobilising support and winning elections from the polling units,” he said.

He reiterated that the rainbow coalition was a cross-party effort to support Tinubu rather than an APC project.

“Most importantly, the rainbow coalition has nothing to do with the APC. Rather, it is own way of mobilising support across political parties for Mr President, who has done well to deserve a second term,” Wike said.

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has said his support for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election in 2027 does not extend to helping politicians win governorship and legislative elections in their states.

Wike said the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) remains free to field candidates for governorship, National Assembly and State House of Assembly elections.

He stressed that his commitment is limited to mobilising support for Tinubu.

In a statement on Tuesday by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka, Wike also said the “rainbow coalition” backing Tinubu has no connection with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

“What I said and stand for is that I will mobilise support for the reelection of the President. I never promised anyone that PDP will not field candidates to contest governorship, National Assembly and States House of Assembly elections,” Wike said.

He said his support for Tinubu in 2023 was not based on any agreement with the APC, adding that neither he nor other members of the G5 met with the party before backing the President.

Wike said his position for 2027 was similarly limited to supporting Tinubu and that politicians facing electoral challenges in their states should resolve them themselves.

“I won’t be the one to help people to win elections in their States. Politics is local and those having problems in their States should resolve them instead of using the reelection of the President to whip up sentiments,” he said.

He argued that the 2023 elections showed that voters could support different parties in presidential and legislative elections held on the same day.

Wike cited Imo State, where the APC won two senatorial seats despite securing less than 15 per cent of the presidential vote, as an example of voters making separate choices at different levels.

“In Imo State under Governor Hope Uzodinma, how did APC win two senate seats in 2023, in an election held the same day with that of the President and APC had less than 15 percent in the presidential election? Was it rainbow coalition? Were the voters confused?” he asked.

He also cited APC victories in National Assembly elections in Ebonyi, Abia and Enugu States, where Tinubu secured less than 10 per cent of the presidential votes.

“Was it the rainbow coalition that also made APC to win National Assembly elections in Ebonyi, Abia and Enugu States where the President did not have ten percent of the votes?” he asked.

Wike said voters could repeat that pattern in 2027 by supporting Tinubu for president while voting for candidates from other parties in state and legislative elections.

He urged political actors to focus their efforts on the presidential election before turning their attention to contests in their respective states.

“After the President must have been reelected, we can all go and face elections in our States,” he said.

Wike also rejected the idea that politicians could rely on alliances or previous electoral positions to win office, saying candidates must secure support at the grassroots.

“Politics is no longer about coming from fourth position to be governor, it is about genuinely mobilising support and winning elections from the polling units,” he said.

He reiterated that the rainbow coalition was a cross-party effort to support Tinubu rather than an APC project.

“Most importantly, the rainbow coalition has nothing to do with the APC. Rather, it is own way of mobilising support across political parties for Mr President, who has done well to deserve a second term,” Wike said.

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has said his support for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election in 2027 does not extend to helping politicians win governorship and legislative elections in their states.

Wike said the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) remains free to field candidates for governorship, National Assembly and State House of Assembly elections.

He stressed that his commitment is limited to mobilising support for Tinubu.

In a statement on Tuesday by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka, Wike also said the “rainbow coalition” backing Tinubu has no connection with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

“What I said and stand for is that I will mobilise support for the reelection of the President. I never promised anyone that PDP will not field candidates to contest governorship, National Assembly and States House of Assembly elections,” Wike said.

He said his support for Tinubu in 2023 was not based on any agreement with the APC, adding that neither he nor other members of the G5 met with the party before backing the President.

Wike said his position for 2027 was similarly limited to supporting Tinubu and that politicians facing electoral challenges in their states should resolve them themselves.

“I won’t be the one to help people to win elections in their States. Politics is local and those having problems in their States should resolve them instead of using the reelection of the President to whip up sentiments,” he said.

He argued that the 2023 elections showed that voters could support different parties in presidential and legislative elections held on the same day.

Wike cited Imo State, where the APC won two senatorial seats despite securing less than 15 per cent of the presidential vote, as an example of voters making separate choices at different levels.

“In Imo State under Governor Hope Uzodinma, how did APC win two senate seats in 2023, in an election held the same day with that of the President and APC had less than 15 percent in the presidential election? Was it rainbow coalition? Were the voters confused?” he asked.

He also cited APC victories in National Assembly elections in Ebonyi, Abia and Enugu States, where Tinubu secured less than 10 per cent of the presidential votes.

“Was it the rainbow coalition that also made APC to win National Assembly elections in Ebonyi, Abia and Enugu States where the President did not have ten percent of the votes?” he asked.

Wike said voters could repeat that pattern in 2027 by supporting Tinubu for president while voting for candidates from other parties in state and legislative elections.

He urged political actors to focus their efforts on the presidential election before turning their attention to contests in their respective states.

“After the President must have been reelected, we can all go and face elections in our States,” he said.

Wike also rejected the idea that politicians could rely on alliances or previous electoral positions to win office, saying candidates must secure support at the grassroots.

“Politics is no longer about coming from fourth position to be governor, it is about genuinely mobilising support and winning elections from the polling units,” he said.

He reiterated that the rainbow coalition was a cross-party effort to support Tinubu rather than an APC project.

“Most importantly, the rainbow coalition has nothing to do with the APC. Rather, it is own way of mobilising support across political parties for Mr President, who has done well to deserve a second term,” Wike said.