The FCT minister says campaign officials should be judged by their ability to mobilise votes in their assigned political territories, not merely by their positions on the council.
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has warned political leaders serving on President Bola Tinubu’s presidential campaign council against claiming victory in the 2027 general election if they fail to secure support for the President in their respective states.
Wike delivered the warning on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, during the inauguration of the APC Presidential Campaign Council in Abuja, where political leaders gathered to begin preparations for Tinubu’s re-election bid.
Addressing the campaign’s responsibilities, the minister stressed that holding a prominent position within the council would mean little if those appointed failed to deliver votes in their areas of influence.
“If you don’t deliver your state and the President wins, don’t say we have won,” Wike said.
He argued that campaign officials should be assessed on the electoral results they help secure rather than on their titles or positions within the campaign structure.
Focus on grassroots mobilisation
Wike’s remarks underscore the importance of state-level political organisation in a presidential election, where national campaigns depend on local networks, voter mobilisation and the ability to translate political endorsements into ballots.
He cited the need for campaign leaders to concentrate on their assigned territories rather than assume that their inclusion in the council guarantees political success.
The minister has been assigned responsibility for coordinating Tinubu’s campaign efforts in Rivers State and the Federal Capital Territory.
He pledged to mobilise support for the President in both areas, expressing confidence that voters there would back Tinubu’s re-election.
Wike also defended the idea of politicians from opposition parties supporting the President, arguing that political affiliation should not prevent individuals from recognising what they consider achievements of an administration.
Wike’s cross-party political position
Wike remains associated with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) but has openly backed Tinubu’s re-election through a cross-party political arrangement commonly described as the Rainbow Coalition.
His support has placed him among the prominent political figures helping to build a broader coalition around the President’s second-term ambition.
The arrangement has also generated debate about party loyalty, political alliances and the relationship between opposition membership and support for an incumbent president.
Wike’s warning suggests that campaign leaders will face expectations to demonstrate measurable political influence, particularly in states where the APC is competing against established opposition structures.
Electoral performance will determine the outcome
Although campaign leaders may have substantial political networks, their ability to deliver votes cannot be established solely by their appointments or public declarations.
The 2027 election will ultimately depend on voters and the performance of the competing campaigns.
Wike’s remarks place pressure on those tasked with coordinating the President’s re-election effort to demonstrate that their political influence can produce electoral support.