FCT Minister Nyesom Wike says he will personally lead campaign teams for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election in the Federal Capital Territory and Rivers State, citing infrastructure development as a key campaign message.
ABUJA — Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has announced plans to personally lead the campaign for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election in the FCT and Rivers State ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Wike made the announcement on Friday in Chikuku, Abuja, while inspecting the ongoing Phase II construction of the Kuje-Gwagwalada road dualisation project.
The minister disclosed that political structures supporting Tinubu were already being mobilised, with plans underway to inaugurate campaign teams in both the FCT and Rivers State.
He said the campaign would focus largely on the administration’s performance, particularly its infrastructure development projects, which he believes are generating public support.
“The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), I believe, is putting itself together for an aggressive campaign,” Wike said.
“For us who are supporting Mr President from different political platforms, we have put our machinery ready to fully kick start.”
He added that he would soon inaugurate the campaign teams for both locations and personally lead their activities.
“Very soon, I will inaugurate the campaign team for Tinubu in the FCT and Rivers State, which I will lead. All elements of the APC are ready, Mr President is ready, we are ready and you can see the enthusiasm,” he said.
Infrastructure Projects at Centre of Campaign
Wike said the FCT administration’s ongoing road construction and other infrastructure projects would be central to the campaign, arguing that residents would judge the government by its development record.
He expressed confidence that the projects would translate into electoral support for Tinubu, insisting that residents were satisfied with the visible changes taking place across the territory.
“People are happy, and I don’t know who will contest against Mr President as far as this election is concerned.
“This is governance, and this is what people expect. It will translate directly into actual votes,” he said.
The minister also linked the expected support for Tinubu to the electoral prospects of other candidates he backs in the FCT, including former Senator Philip Aduda and candidates contesting the territory’s two House of Representatives seats.
Wike further argued that the administration’s infrastructure projects would demonstrate its performance to voters, rejecting suggestions that electoral malpractice would account for any eventual victory in the territory.
“It is very obvious. Nobody will be able to claim rigging in the FCT. The ‘rigging’ is the projects we are delivering, making the people happy,” he said.
Wike Assures Residents of Road Project Completion
During the inspection, Wike commended the contractor and site engineers handling the Kuje-Gwagwalada road dualisation project for the progress recorded so far.
He assured stakeholders that adequate funding would be made available to ensure the project was completed by December.
The minister said his visit to the area had given him a better appreciation of its population and the importance of the road project to residents.
“This is my first time getting to this side of the road, and I can see how highly populated this area is,” he said.
He maintained that functional infrastructure remained an important responsibility of government, adding that public satisfaction with development projects was central to governance.
“You can imagine the enthusiasm and happiness on the faces of the people. That is why we say the essence of governance is to make people happy. When the people are happy, those in authority are happy,” he added.
Wike’s Political Position Ahead of 2027
Wike’s announcement comes amid political disagreements within the APC over his proposed Rainbow Coalition, an initiative he has said is intended to mobilise support for Tinubu’s re-election.
Wike is a member of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), despite serving in Tinubu’s APC-led administration. His political alignment with the President has also drawn criticism from some APC governors, who have raised concerns about the coalition’s potential impact on the party’s candidates.
The minister has maintained that his support for Tinubu does not require him to join the APC and has continued to advocate for political mobilisation across party lines.
