Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has ruled out leading President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 presidential campaign, saying he would not risk his political base in Rivers State for a role that could cost him the state.
Wike, speaking on Saturday after inspecting the Apo-Karshi and Kubwa-Bwari road projects in Abuja, said his decision was also informed by the fact that he is not a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), despite his continued political alignment with the Tinubu administration.
The minister was responding to questions on whether he would have preferred to serve as Director-General of Tinubu’s 2027 Presidential Campaign Council, a position the Presidency announced on Friday had been given to former Zamfara State Governor, Senator Abdulaziz Yari.
Wike said his experience of previous presidential campaigns showed that heading a national campaign can carry significant political risks, particularly for politicians trying to retain control of their home states.
He recalled previous campaign directors-general who, after leading presidential campaigns, eventually lost their states to opposition parties.
‘Why would I take that risk?’ Wike asked, stressing the importance of protecting his political base in Rivers State as the 2027 elections approach.
The former Rivers State governor’s comments underscore the political calculations confronting senior politicians ahead of the next general election, particularly as alliances across Nigeria’s major political parties continue to shift.
Although Wike remains a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), he has maintained a close working relationship with the Tinubu administration since the 2023 presidential election. His relationship with the ruling APC has repeatedly triggered criticism within the PDP, where some members have accused him of undermining the opposition party.
Wike, however, has consistently defended his political choices, arguing that his priority is governance and the interests of his supporters.
The appointment of Yari as campaign DG marks an important step in the APC’s preparations for the 2027 presidential election, with the ruling party expected to begin broader mobilisation and campaign structures across the country.
For Wike, however, the decision not to take a formal role in Tinubu’s campaign appears to reflect a calculation that protecting his political influence in Rivers State is more important than assuming a high-profile national campaign position.