The Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has called on political stakeholders supporting President Bola Tinubu for re-election in 2027 to concentrate 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, saying membership of a presidential campaign council does not automatically guaranty electoral victory.
The real test of a politician in an election is his ability to mobilize the voters and deliver results at the grassroots level, he said.
“Every politics is local”, the minister said, urging President’s supporters across party lines to focus on grassroot mobilization and winning votes for Tinubu.
Besides, Wike dismissed the insinuation that politicians not members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council would be unable to make meaningful contributions to Tinubu’s re-election campaign.
He cited the history of prominent politicians who had chaired presidential campaign councils but who had been unable to carry their home states.
Rotimi Amaechi was Director General of Muhammadu Buhari’s presidential campaigns in 2015 and 2019 but could not deliver Rivers State, the minister said.
He also mentioned Bukola Saraki, who led 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, the APC Presidential Campaign Council in the same election, failed to deliver Plateau State.
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“If you are the DG and you cannot win your state, what is the meaning 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 gonna say, ‘Why didn’t you win in your own state?’” he said.
The Minister said political alliances could exist beyond party structures, citing the cross-party “Rainbow Coalition” as an example of politicians coming together to support Tinubu across 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 said the role of the G-5 governors before the 2023 presidential elections, noting 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 ideas about how the presidency would play out.
The Rainbow Coalition is not seeking members of the APC Presidential Campaign Council. He said: “We are doing it our way.
Wike reiterated his commitment to deliver electoral votes for Tinubu in FCT and Rivers State, saying he would personally lead the campaign in the two territories.
“What is important is: can you deliver those two states? Who is going to be leading the Rivers State campaign? I. Who will be in charge of FCT? Me,” he said.
