Nyesom Wike, Minister of Federal Capital Territory, has urged political stakeholders supporting President Bola Tinubu to focus on securing votes for him at the ward, local government and state levels ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
Wike said political supporters should focus on delivering electoral victories in their respective areas rather than seeking positions in the presidential campaign structure.
The minister spoke on Saturday while inspecting infrastructure projects in Abuja.
‘Every politics is local,’ Wike said. ‘If you cannot deliver the president in your state, how will you say you want an election? If you lose your own state, even if you’re DG, you’ll be ashamed.’
Wike’s comments came as he explained why he would not seek the position of Director-General of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council for the 2027 election.
According to him, holding a position in the campaign does not matter if the person cannot secure victory for the president in his or her political base.
‘What’s important is that you are able to deliver those two states. So it’s not about being DG. If you’re DG and you don’t win your state, what’s the essence of the DG?’ he said.
The former Rivers State governor said he would rather concentrate on his political base than pursue a campaign position.
‘I don’t want to lose my state! I will be in my state. I have two states: FCT and my state,’ he said.
Wike also said he is not a member of the APC, adding that this would not prevent him from supporting Tinubu’s re-election bid.
He said political groups that supported Tinubu in the 2023 election operated across party lines through what he described as a ‘Rainbow Coalition.’
‘We don’t need to be members of the APC Presidential Campaign Council. We are doing our own work,’ Wike said.
He added that similar political arrangements could be used in 2027, although the structure would differ from one state to another.
Wike also linked infrastructure projects in Abuja to Tinubu’s performance, saying completed projects would be more important than campaign promises.
‘When people have asked me about campaign, I say, ‘What is campaign? See the campaign!’ Campaign is what have you done for the people? What has the government got to show?’ he said.
The minister said government should be judged by projects and policies that improve people’s lives rather than promises made during elections.
‘It’s not about promises; it’s about really putting in action that things indeed will have a positive impact in the lives of the people,’ he said.
Wike made the comments while inspecting the Apo-Karshi Road and the 14-kilometre dualisation of the Bwari-Kubwa Satellite Town access road.
The Apo-Karshi Road was originally awarded in 2010 and was inherited by the Tinubu administration, according to Wike.
He said the FCT Administration terminated the previous contract because of the importance of the road and complaints from residents before awarding the project to SCC.
Wike said the contractor had indicated that the road would be completed by November.
He also said the contractor had continued work despite payment challenges, adding that the administration was committed to the project.
On the Bwari-Kubwa road, Wike said the 14-kilometre dualisation would improve movement between the satellite towns and support economic activities.
He said the project was part of the Tinubu administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Wike said the FCT Administration was working to complete and commission several projects before the 2027 elections.
He said the administration had initially targeted 10 projects for completion but that the number could increase because of progress on other projects.
‘Before the election, I gave 10 projects that we commissioned. If care is not taken, it may be more than 10 projects that are very impactful to the economic activities and the lives of the residents of these cities,’ he said.
The minister said the administration would continue to focus on projects aimed at improving transportation, economic activity and the quality of life of residents.