2027: Wike Charges Stakeholders to Deliver Tinubu at Ward, LG and State Levels

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has urged political stakeholders backing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to work towards securing his victory across their wards, local government areas and states ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Wike made the call on Saturday while speaking with journalists during an inspection of ongoing infrastructure projects in Abuja. He also explained why he would not seek the position of Director-General of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council.

According to the minister, political leaders should be more concerned about delivering electoral victories in their respective political strongholds than securing positions in the presidential campaign structure.

“Every politics is local. If you cannot deliver the president in your state, how will you say you want an election? If you lose your own state, even if you’re DG, you’ll be ashamed,” Wike said.

He argued that occupying a campaign position would have little significance if the individual could not deliver his or her state to the President.

Wike said he would instead concentrate on his political base, recalling instances where prominent politicians who served as campaign directors-general were unable to secure victories for their candidates in their home states.

He mentioned former Transportation Minister Rotimi Amaechi, former Senate President Bukola Saraki, former Sokoto State Governor Aminu Tambuwal and former Plateau State Governor Simon Lalong among those who had occupied prominent campaign positions in previous elections.

“I don’t want to lose my state! I will be in my state. I have two states: FCT and my state,” he stated.

The minister also reiterated that he is not a member of the APC, stressing that his support for Tinubu does not depend on his membership of the APC Presidential Campaign Council.

He said political groups that supported Tinubu during the 2023 presidential election operated under what he described as a “Rainbow Coalition” across various states.

“We don’t need to be members of the APC Presidential Campaign Council. We are doing our own work,” Wike said.

He explained that the political coalition would remain relevant in the 2027 election, although its structure and alliances could differ from one state to another.

Wike further described ongoing infrastructure projects in the FCT as part of the campaign for the Tinubu administration, arguing that completed projects would provide tangible evidence of government performance.

“When people have asked me about campaign, I say, ‘What is campaign? See the campaign!’ Campaign is what have you done for the people? What has the government got to show?” he said.

According to him, governance should be measured by tangible achievements rather than promises, adding that projects capable of improving residents’ lives constitute a strong message to voters.

Wike spoke while inspecting the Apo-Karshi Road and the 14-kilometre dualisation of the Bwari-Kubwa Satellite Town access road.

He described the Apo-Karshi Road as a long-delayed project inherited by the Tinubu administration, noting that the original contract was awarded in 2010.

The FCT Administration, he explained, terminated the previous contract because of the importance of the road and complaints from residents before awarding it to SCC.

Wike expressed satisfaction with the contractor’s progress and disclosed that SCC had indicated that the project would be completed by November.

He also commended the contractor for continuing work despite payment challenges, saying the company had demonstrated confidence in the government’s commitment to meeting its financial obligations.

On the Bwari-Kubwa road, the minister described the 14-kilometre dualisation as another major intervention aimed at improving connectivity and stimulating economic activities within the satellite towns.

He said the project was consistent with the Renewed Hope Agenda of the Tinubu administration.

Wike further disclosed that the FCT Administration was working towards completing and commissioning several major projects before the 2027 elections.

He noted that although he had initially targeted 10 projects for commissioning, the number could exceed that figure given the pace of work on several ongoing projects.

“Before the election, I gave 10 projects that we commissioned. If care is not taken, it may be more than 10 projects that are very impactful to the economic activities and the lives of the residents of these cities,” he said.

The minister expressed satisfaction with the progress of work at the inspected sites, stressing that the FCT Administration remained committed to turning its promises to residents into completed and beneficial projects.