FCT Minister Nyesom Wike has explained why he is not serving as Director-General of President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 presidential campaign, saying he is not a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and does not want to risk losing his home state.
Wike spoke on Saturday after inspecting the Apo-Karshi Road and Kubwa-Bwari Road projects in Abuja, shortly after the Presidency announced the APC’s 2027 Presidential Campaign Council.
Former Zamfara State Governor Abdulaziz Yari was named Director-General of the council.
‘I Don’t Want to Lose My State’
Wike said he had observed a pattern in previous elections where campaign directors-general worked to secure victory for their presidential candidates but ended up losing their own states.
He recalled the experiences of Rotimi Amaechi, Bukola Saraki, Aminu Tambuwal and Simon Lalong, who served in senior campaign roles during previous elections.
According to Wike, Amaechi served as Muhammadu Buhari’s campaign DG in 2015 and lost Rivers State. He said Amaechi also played the role in 2019 and again lost the state.
Wike recalled that Saraki served as Atiku Abubakar’s campaign DG in 2019 but lost Kwara State and his own senatorial seat.
He also pointed to Tambuwal, who served as Atiku’s campaign DG in 2023 and lost Sokoto State, while Lalong, who headed Buhari’s re-election campaign in 2023, also lost Plateau State.
Wike said he was unwilling to become part of that history.
“I don’t want to lose my state! I will be in my state.”
The minister said his priority was to help deliver both Rivers State and the FCT, rather than hold a campaign title.
“If you are DG and you don’t win your state, what is the essence of the DG?”
‘I Am Not a Member of APC’
Wike also said his membership status made it unlikely that he would head the APC’s campaign council.
“I am not a member of APC. So the issue of their Presidential Campaign Council is out of the question.”
He noted that he and other politicians who supported Tinubu during the 2023 election were not members of the APC Presidential Campaign Council at the time.
According to Wike, supporters outside the APC instead developed their own strategies to help Tinubu secure victory.
Wike Backs ‘Rainbow Coalition’
The FCT minister said his continued support for Tinubu’s re-election is being pursued through a cross-party arrangement known as the “Rainbow Coalition.”
He explained that politicians from different parties could work together in their respective states to support the President while remaining members of their original political parties.
Wike said the arrangement is already operating in states including Kwara, Bayelsa, Rivers, Osun and Benue.
He argued that political influence should ultimately be measured by electoral results rather than positions held within campaign structures.
Wike also said only the outcome of the 2027 election would determine how each state performs politically.
Wike Praises Abuja Road Projects
During the inspection, Wike expressed satisfaction with the quality of work on the Apo-Karshi and Kubwa-Bwari roads.
He said both projects were expected to be completed before the end of the year.
The minister added that his earlier plan to complete 10 major projects before the 2027 general election could now be exceeded, saying more than 10 projects are currently expected to be completed before the election.
Source: Nyesom Wike / Federal Capital Territory Administration.
