Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has explained why he was not included in President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s 2027 presidential campaign council, saying his priority is to secure political victories in the Federal Capital Territory and Rivers State.
Wike said the position of Director-General of a presidential campaign is not necessarily a measure of political relevance, particularly when the person holding the position fails to deliver his or her own political stronghold.
He spoke on Saturday while inspecting ongoing road projects in Abuja, shortly after the Presidency announced former Zamfara State Governor Abdulaziz Yari as Director-General of the APC Presidential Campaign Council.
‘I don’t want to lose my state’
Explaining his position, Wike pointed to previous presidential campaigns in which prominent politicians headed campaign organisations but subsequently lost elections in their home states.
He cited former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi, former Senate President Bukola Saraki, former Sokoto State Governor Aminu Tambuwal and former Plateau State Governor Simon Lalong as examples of politicians who, according to him, suffered electoral setbacks despite occupying senior campaign positions.
Wike said he did not want to repeat that experience.
“I don’t want to lose my state! I will be in my state. I have two states: FCT and Rivers.”
He argued that political relevance should ultimately be measured by electoral results.
According to the minister, securing victory for Tinubu in his areas of political influence is more important than occupying a prominent title within the national campaign structure.
Wike says APC membership is not necessary
Wike also stressed that he is not a member of the APC, making membership of the party’s formal presidential campaign council inappropriate.
He recalled that he and other members of the political coalition that supported Tinubu in 2023 did not need to join the APC before working towards the President’s victory.
He said a similar arrangement could operate in 2027 through the political network he refers to as the Rainbow Coalition.
Wike has continued to publicly support Tinubu’s re-election despite his continued association with the PDP.
He has now urged politicians supporting the President to focus less on campaign positions and more on delivering their wards, local government areas and states.