Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has reiterated that his support for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027 remains unwavering.
Wike also clarified that he never promised that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) would not field candidates for governorship, National Assembly and State House of Assembly elections in 2027.
The minister made the clarification in a statement issued on Tuesday and signed by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka.
Wike explained that the proposed rainbow coalition had no connection with the All Progressives Congress (APC), describing it as a platform for members of different political parties who support Tinubu’s re-election based on their assessment of his performance.
“Politics is local, and those having problems in their states should resolve them instead of using the re-election of the President to whip up sentiments,” Wike said.
He recalled that he never held discussions with the APC before he and other members of the G5 supported Tinubu in the 2023 presidential election, stressing that his support in 2027 was solely for the President.
The FCT minister said political success was no longer about relying on past electoral positions but about genuinely mobilising support and winning elections from the polling units.
Wike cited the 2023 elections in Imo, Abia, Enugu and Ebonyi states, where voters supported APC candidates in some National Assembly elections despite voting for other parties in the presidential poll.
He questioned whether such voting patterns could be attributed to a rainbow coalition or voter confusion.
“If in 2023, the voters in Imo, Abia, Enugu and Ebonyi voted APC in the senatorial election and voted another party in the presidential election, they won’t be confused in 2027, provided we all support the President genuinely this time?” he asked.
Wike urged political stakeholders to prioritise Tinubu’s re-election, saying they could focus on their respective state and legislative contests afterwards.
“After the President has been re-elected, we can all go and face elections in our states,” he said.
The minister maintained that his position had always been to mobilise support for Tinubu and denied making any commitment that would stop the PDP from presenting candidates in other elections.
“What I said and stand for is that I will mobilise support for the re-election of the President. I never promised anyone that PDP will not field candidates to contest governorship, National Assembly and State House of Assembly elections,” Wike said.
He added that the rainbow coalition was not an APC arrangement but an effort to mobilise support for Tinubu across different political parties.
“Most importantly, the rainbow coalition has nothing to do with the APC. Rather, it is our own way of mobilising support across political parties for Mr President, who has done well to deserve a second term,” he said.
