Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has reaffirmed his commitment to President Bola Tinubu’s re-election in the 2027 presidential election, saying it remains his immediate political priority.
Wike made the declaration on Monday, September 21, in Abuja while speaking with journalists after inspecting ongoing road projects across the Federal Capital Territory.
The former Rivers State governor, who remains a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) while serving in the APC-led Federal Government, also rejected claims that the cross-party Rainbow Coalition was created to weaken existing political parties ahead of the 2027 elections.
The coalition has faced opposition from APC governors under the Progressives Governors Forum (PGF), chaired by Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma. The governors have expressed concerns that the arrangement could undermine the APC and its candidates.
Wike, however, described the allegations as baseless and maintained that the coalition brings together politicians from different platforms who support the Tinubu administration.
Reiterating his position on Monday, Wike said his immediate political objective was to ensure Tinubu remains in office beyond 2027.
“My primary concern is whether Tinubu will be re-elected for a second term, and I have made it known from the outset that I am going to support Mr President with all my might and strength,” he said.
He said he was unfazed by criticism of the coalition but questioned claims that it was designed to destabilise political parties.
“I am not bothered about what accusations people make, but it is very disappointing to hear some people say the rainbow coalition will destabilise the party,” Mr Wike said.
According to him, members of the coalition were not preventing anyone from supporting other political interests but were instead encouraging members of their respective parties and other like-minded Nigerians to back Tinubu.
“We have not gone to anyone to say they should not support anyone; rather, we asked all our party members and like-minded people who are not APC members to ensure they support Mr President,” he said.
Wike also drew parallels with the G-5 governors’ role during the 2023 elections, questioning why similar concerns were not raised at the time.
“Looking back at 2023, when it was the G-5, why did nobody complain that it would destabilise the party? Did the president not win? Did it affect the APC-controlled National Assembly?” he asked.
While acknowledging that the G-5 may have offered some political advantage, he said the comparison did not explain the opposition to the current coalition.
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“You can argue that it gave them an advantage, but that is not the real cause of the outcry today. There are undertones to this,” Mr Wike said.
Wike said he would appear on TVC later on Monday to offer further explanations about the coalition and the issues surrounding it.
He also dismissed speculation that his current political alignment was aimed at preparing for a presidential bid in 2031.
“People are taking the position of God. First of all, you have to pray to be alive—asking God to keep you alive until tomorrow or the next day. Only when God keeps you alive will you know what to do,” he said.
Wike recalled that he contested the 2022 PDP presidential primary and finished second, saying his experience had exposed him to the complexities of Nigerian politics.
“By 2031, Mr President will not run, and he will have an interest in who will succeed him, and I will not be at loggerheads with his interest,” Wike said, stressing that the future ultimately remained in God’s hands.
Meanwhile, the FCT minister expressed satisfaction with the progress of ongoing infrastructure projects in the capital and said they were expected to be completed before the January 2027 general elections.
During the inspection, Wike visited the Inner Southern Expressway from Ring Road I to Ring Road II, the service lanes of the Southern Parkway from Arterial Road S20 in Gaduwa District to Ring Road II, and the road connecting Nile University to Ring Road III.
He commended the contractors for the quality and pace of work and assured residents that the Tinubu administration would deliver on its promises.