By Lizzy Chirkpi<\/p>\n
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has challenged governors and other political leaders supporting President Bola Tinubu\u2019s re-election to demonstrate their commitment by delivering their respective states in the 2027 presidential election.<\/p>\n
Wike warned that political leaders should not claim credit for Tinubu\u2019s victory if they failed to secure electoral support in their states.<\/p>\n
He spoke on Wednesday at the inauguration of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.<\/p>\n
\u201cI want to say, if you don\u2019t deliver your states and the President wins, don\u2019t say we have won. It\u2019s not a question of whether I am chairman, secretary or member of this. What is important is for the President to win,\u201d Wike said.<\/p>\n
Emphasising the importance of winning votes at the state level, the minister recalled a conversation with the President\u2019s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, during which he stressed the need for Tinubu to secure victory in Lagos State.<\/p>\n
\u201cI told the Chief of Staff to the President, if the President doesn\u2019t win in Lagos, don\u2019t say we have won,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
Wike, who has been assigned to coordinate Tinubu\u2019s campaign in Rivers State and the FCT, pledged to mobilise massive support for the President in both territories.<\/p>\n
\u201cBy the grace of God, Rivers and FCT will vote massively for Bola Ahmed Tinubu,\u201d he declared.<\/p>\n
The FCT minister also challenged political leaders to demonstrate the impact of Tinubu\u2019s administration, particularly in Abuja, where he argued that ongoing projects should translate into electoral support.<\/p>\n
\u201cI challenge any area council that can say they don\u2019t see the presence of Mr President,\u201d Wike said.<\/p>\n
He defended Tinubu\u2019s leadership, arguing that previous administrations had identified Nigeria\u2019s problems but failed to take the necessary steps to address them.<\/p>\n
Wike also emphasised the importance of constructive opposition in a democracy, saying political parties should identify national challenges and propose solutions rather than criticise the government simply because they are not in power.<\/p>\n
His remarks come as the APC intensifies efforts to build a broad coalition of political figures from different parties ahead of Tinubu\u2019s re-election bid.<\/p>\n
Although Wike remains a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), he has consistently declared support for Tinubu\u2019s second-term ambition. Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke of the Accord Party and Anambra State Governor Chukwuma Soludo of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) have also been assigned roles in the campaign structure.<\/p>\n
Under the expanded arrangement, Tinubu chairs the campaign council, while Vice-President Kashim Shettima and APC National Chairman, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, serve as vice-chairmen. Former Zamfara State Governor Abdulaziz Yari is the Director-General, while Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma serves as secretary.<\/p>\n
Wike\u2019s challenge underscores the pressure on state campaign coordinators and political leaders to turn their positions into effective grassroots mobilisation and electoral gains for the President.<\/p>\n
The APC is preparing for the January 16, 2027, presidential election, with its campaign expected to highlight Tinubu\u2019s economic reforms, infrastructure projects and administration\u2019s record in office.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
By Lizzy Chirkpi Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has challenged governors and other political leaders supporting President Bola Tinubu\u2019s re-election to demonstrate their commitment by delivering…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":130043,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-130042","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"yoast_head":"\n