2027: My Support Is Only for Tinubu – Wike Declares

….Says PDP Can Field Candidates in Other Elections
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has reaffirmed his support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election in 2027, clarifying that he never promised that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) would not field candidates in governorship, National Assembly and State House of Assembly elections.

Wike made the clarification in a statement on Tuesday by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka, amid ongoing political discussions over the emerging coalition ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The minister said his support for Tinubu was specifically for the presidential election, stressing that he had never agreed that the PDP or other political parties should withdraw from other electoral contests.

According to him, the “rainbow coalition” has no connection with the All Progressives Congress (APC), but is a platform through which members of different political parties who support Tinubu’s performance can mobilise votes for his re-election.

Wike also dismissed the notion that supporting Tinubu for president in 2027 means abandoning political contests in individual states.

“What I said and stand for is that I will mobilise support for the reelection of the President. I never promised anyone that PDP will not field candidates to contest governorship, National Assembly and States House of Assembly elections,” he said.

The minister said he would not assist politicians to win elections in their respective states, arguing that political disputes at the state level should be resolved locally rather than being linked to Tinubu’s re-election bid.

“Politics is local and those having problems in their States should resolve them instead of using the reelection of the President to whip up sentiments,” he said.

Wike recalled that he and other members of the G5 did not meet with the APC before supporting Tinubu in the 2023 presidential election, insisting that his position for 2027 remains focused on the President.

He cited the 2023 elections in Imo, Abia, Enugu and Ebonyi states as evidence that voters can support different parties in presidential and legislative elections held on the same day.

“In Imo State under Governor Hope Uzodinma, how did APC win two senate seats in 2023, in an election held the same day with that of the President and APC had less than 15 percent in the presidential election? Was it rainbow coalition? Were the voters confused?” he asked.

Wike further pointed to APC victories in National Assembly elections in Ebonyi, Abia and Enugu, despite the party recording significantly lower presidential votes in those states.

He maintained that voters could similarly support Tinubu for president while choosing candidates from other political parties in state and legislative elections in 2027.

The FCT minister urged political stakeholders to prioritise Tinubu’s presidential re-election before turning their attention to state-level contests.

“After the President must have been reelected, we can all go and face elections in our States,” he said.

Wike also argued that political success should no longer be measured by claims of coming from a distant position to win office, but by genuine grassroots mobilisation and the ability to secure votes at polling units.