Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has warned All Progressives Congress leaders against claiming victory in the 2027 elections if they fail to deliver their respective states for President Bola Tinubu.
Wike said APC leaders should be judged by the votes they secure for Tinubu, who is seeking re-election, rather than their positions in the presidential campaign council.
He spoke on Wednesday in Abuja during the inauguration of the APC presidential campaign council, where he pledged to mobilise massive support for Tinubu in Rivers State and the FCT.
“If you don’t deliver your state and the president wins, don’t say we have won. So it is not a question of I am chairman of this, I’m secretary of this, I’m a member of this,” Wike said.
Using Lagos State as an example, the former Rivers State governor said the President’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, should not celebrate Tinubu’s re-election if the APC failed to win the commercial state.
Wike disclosed that he had been assigned to coordinate the President’s campaign in Rivers and the FCT, promising to ensure that both areas voted massively for Tinubu.
“And let me say, I pledged by the grace of God, Rivers and FCT will vote massively for Bola Ahmed Tinubu. That is my joy. I have only two assignments, Rivers and FCT,” he said.
The former governor also defended Tinubu’s leadership, arguing that the President had shown the willingness to confront challenges previous administrations had failed to address.
He cited the proposed establishment of state police as an example, saying successive administrations had recognised its potential to tackle insecurity but had failed to take decisive steps towards its implementation.
Wike expressed optimism that the state police proposal would be approved in the coming months, describing the initiative as evidence of leadership.
He also argued that opposition politicians should acknowledge the achievements of the ruling party where necessary, rather than reject them solely on partisan grounds.
According to him, democracy allows opposition parties to criticise the government’s shortcomings but does not require them to deny its achievements.
Wike, who described himself as the leader of the Peoples Democratic Party, said his support for Tinubu was based on his assessment of the President’s leadership rather than partisan considerations.
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