The Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has urged political stakeholders backing President Bola Tinubu for re-election in 2027 to focus on winning their wards, local government areas and states instead of jostling for positions in campaign councils.
Wike made the call in Abuja on Saturday after inspecting some ongoing projects in the FCT, stating that membership of a presidential campaign council does not automatically guaranty electoral victory.
He said the true test of a politician in an election is his ability to mobilize voters and deliver results at the grassroots.
“Every politics is local”, the minister said, calling on the President’s supporters across party lines to focus on grassroot mobilization and winning votes for Tinubu.
Also, Wike dismissed the suggestion that politicians who are not members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council would be unable to contribute meaningfully to Tinubu’s re-election campaign.
He pointed to the track record of high-profile politicians who had led presidential campaign councils but failed to deliver their home states.
The minister said Rotimi Amaechi was Director General of Muhammadu Buhari’s presidential campaigns in 2015 and 2019 but could not deliver Rivers State.
He also mentioned Bukola Saraki, who headed Atiku Abubakar’s presidential campaign in 2019 but lost both Kwara State and his senatorial seat.
Wike said Aminu Tambuwal, Atiku’s campaign Director-General in 2023, also lost Sokoto State, while Simon Lalong, who led the APC Presidential Campaign Council in the same election, failed to deliver Plateau State.
“If you are the DG and you fail to win your state, what is the point of the DG? Even if you are DG, you will be ashamed if you lose your own state. “When you say you won, people are going to say, ‘Why didn’t you win in your own state?’” he said.
The Minister said political alliances could operate outside formal party structures, citing the cross-party “Rainbow Coalition” as an example of politicians working together to support Tinubu across different states.
He said the coalition was already working in several states including Bayelsa, Benue and Kwara irrespective of formal membership of the APC campaign council.
Wike also spoke about the role of the G-5 governors before the 2023 presidential elections, stating that political actors can use independent structures and strategies to achieve electoral goals.
“I am not a member of APC, therefore I cannot be in the Presidential Campaign Council. We had our own visions of how the presidency would play out.
The Rainbow Coalition is not asking for members of the APC Presidential Campaign Council. “We’re working our own way,” he said.
Wike restated his pledge to deliver electoral votes for Tinubu in FCT and Rivers State, saying he would personally spearhead the campaign in the two territories.
What matters is: can you deliver those two states? Who will be spearheading the Rivers State campaign? I. Who will be in charge of FCT? Me,” he said.