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By Tracy Moses
A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, Princewill Dike, has urged President Bola Tinubu to appoint the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, as Director-General of his Presidential Campaign Council ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Dike, a Port Harcourt-based legal practitioner, made the call on Monday while speaking with journalists in Port Harcourt. He expressed confidence in Wike’s political capacity, describing him as a strategic mobiliser capable of securing victory for Tinubu’s re-election bid.
According to him, Wike’s track record as a former governor of Rivers State demonstrates his ability to outmaneuver political opponents and deliver electoral success.
“I have always maintained that if the political ‘wonder boy’ of Rivers State, Wike, becomes President Tinubu’s campaign Director-General, his opponents will be in serious trouble,” Dike said.
He further argued that Wike possesses an extensive political network across the country and has a proven ability to mobilise both human and financial resources for campaigns.
“Wike knows how to generate campaign funds without burdening the President. Rather than mismanage resources, he would even contribute his own and work tirelessly across the states to ensure victory,” he added.
Dike also highlighted Wike’s influence beyond party lines, noting that despite being a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), he played a significant role in delivering key electoral victories in Rivers State during the 2023 general elections, including support that benefited Tinubu.
He described Wike as a “goal-getter” with a “Midas touch,” insisting that his leadership of the APC Presidential Campaign Council would give the party a strong advantage in 2027.
The APC chieftain further recalled past acknowledgements of Wike’s political strength, citing a 2014 remark by Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Odein Ajumogobia, who reportedly withdrew from the Rivers State governorship race after admitting that Wike had an exceptional grasp of politics.
The call comes against the backdrop of Wike’s growing influence in national politics following the 2023 general elections, where, despite being a member of the Peoples Democratic Party, he openly backed Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Wike, who later accepted appointment as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, was part of the G5 governors whose opposition to their party’s presidential candidate reshaped political alignments at the time. His role in Rivers State during the elections has continued to fuel perceptions of his ability to influence electoral outcomes beyond party lines