The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike yesterday restated his commitment to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election.
He dismissed claims that he was among those lobbying to be the Director-General (DG) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) as untrue.
Wike declared that he needs no formal position in the campaign structure to contribute towards Tinubu’s victory, promising to work to ensure a convincing victory for the President in Rivers State and the FCT in the 2027 presidential election.
A national paper (not The Nation) had listed the FCT minister as one of those jostling for the APC PCC coordinator.
But, in a statement issued on Monday by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka, Wike said the report did not reflect his position or current priorities.
Wike said he was currently outside the country, taking a break after an intensive period of activities in the FCT during which he spent more than 30 days inaugurating completed projects, flagging off new ones and inspecting ongoing ones.
He said his immediate priority on returning to the country would be the continued implementation of the administration’s programmes in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda.
He said: ‘I am outside Nigeria, resting and relaxing after spending over 30 days, commissioning projects, flagging off new ones and inspecting ongoing ones, especially those scheduled for commissioning in December and January, next year.
‘When I return, our focus will be the continuous delivery of our mandate in line with the President’s Renewed Hope Agenda and to further enhance his electoral fortune in Rivers State and the FCT.
‘Therefore, I do not need to be the DG or even member of the Presidential Campaign Council of Mr President’s political party to contribute my quota by ensuring that he wins handsomely in Rivers State and the FCT’.
Although Wike remains a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), he has repeatedly declared support for Tinubu’s re-election, a position that has put him at odds with sections of his party and has continued to fuel speculation over his political alignment ahead of the next presidential contest.
The FCT minister was one of the prominent PDP figures, who backed Tinubu in the 2023 presidential election despite his party’s nomination of Atiku Abubakar.
His continued support for Tinubu has also featured prominently in political discussions surrounding the 2027 election, particularly because of his influence in Rivers State and his role in the administration as FCT Minister.
Wike’s latest clarification appears designed to draw a line between his political support for Tinubu and speculation over the internal structure of the President’s campaign machinery.
Rather than seeking a formal campaign position, the minister said he would concentrate on using his political influence and administrative responsibilities to strengthen Tinubu’s electoral prospects.