Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike has said he will not use his political influence to help politicians win governorship or legislative elections in their states in 2027, insisting that his priority is President Bola Tinubu’s re-election.
Wike made the clarification in a statement issued on Tuesday by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka.
The former Rivers State governor said his support for Tinubu should not be interpreted to mean that he would intervene in state-level contests or prevent the Peoples Democratic Party from fielding candidates.
“I won’t be the one to help people to win elections in their states. 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 also explained that the so-called rainbow coalition was not an extension of the All Progressives Congress.
“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.
Wike recalled that he and other members of the G5 backed Tinubu during the 2023 presidential election without formally joining the APC, adding that the same approach would guide his position in 2027.
He argued that voters are capable of supporting different parties in presidential, governorship and legislative elections, citing results from Imo, Abia, Enugu and Ebonyi in 2023.
“The results showed that voters were capable of separating presidential and state-level elections,” he said.
Wike maintained that political actors should focus first on securing Tinubu’s re-election before turning their attention to local contests.
“After the President must have been re-elected, we can all go and face elections in our states,” he said.
He further stressed that his support for Tinubu does not amount to an agreement that the PDP or other parties should stay out of state and National Assembly 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.
