Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has declared himself the coordinator of field operations for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election campaign in the FCT and Rivers State ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Wike made the declaration on Monday during a stakeholders’ meeting of the Rainbow Coalition in Abuja, where he said participants had agreed to support Tinubu’s re-election regardless of their political affiliations.
“I am in charge of the FCT election. I am the commander of field operations as far as the FCT election is concerned,” Wike said.
He also stated that he would coordinate campaign activities in Rivers State, where he previously served as governor.
“For the presidency, all of us have agreed that it is Bola Ahmed Tinubu. I am going to coordinate the FCT and Rivers State. So you can imagine how important it is,” he said.
Coalition brings together political stakeholders
The meeting attracted stakeholders from the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), including party chairmen, serving and former senators, National Assembly candidates and leaders from the FCT’s six area councils.
The gathering highlighted efforts to build a political coalition around Tinubu’s expected re-election bid as preparations for the 2027 polls continue.
Wike’s position is particularly significant because of his political background in Rivers State and his current role in the Federal Government.
Although he belongs to the PDP, Wike has maintained a working relationship with the Tinubu administration, a development that has continued to shape political alignments ahead of the next presidential election.
Rivers and FCT emerge as campaign priorities
Wike’s declaration places Rivers State and the FCT at the centre of his stated campaign strategy.
Rivers remains politically important because of its electoral weight and Wike’s established political network in the state. The FCT, meanwhile, presents a distinct political environment involving residents across the six area councils.
His ability to coordinate supporters across party lines will be tested by the competing interests of political parties, local structures and prospective candidates as the election approaches.
The declaration represents Wike’s stated commitment to Tinubu’s re-election effort; it does not, by itself, establish the eventual electoral outcome or the level of support the coalition will secure.
Attention will now turn to how the coalition organises its campaign, mobilises voters and translates its stated support into electoral gains.