Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has expressed confidence that residents of the territory will support President Bola Tinubu’s re-election in 2027, insisting they will not repeat what he described as their mistake in the 2023 election.
Wike made the statement on Thursday during an interactive session organised by the Rainbow Coalition in Bwari Area Council, where he urged residents to support the Tinubu administration and reject politicians he described as “political gamblers.”
Addressing the gathering, the minister questioned whether residents would repeat their electoral decision from 2023, prompting the audience to respond in the negative.
“The mistake we made in 2023, would we make that mistake again? If it was an error, would we make that error again?” he asked.
The Rainbow Coalition is a political alliance involving members of the All Progressives Congress (APC), the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and some other opposition parties.
Wike pointed to ongoing projects in the FCT as evidence of the administration’s performance, arguing that residents should consider these developments when deciding whom to support in the 2027 elections.
Wike Questions Senator Ireti Kingibe’s Impact
The minister also criticised the performance of Senator Ireti Kingibe, who represents the FCT, questioning whether residents had felt the impact of her representation.
“Today, the people of FCT, do you feel the impact? Do you feel the presence of the senator representing FCT today?” Wike asked.
He subsequently presented Senator Philip Aduda and John Gbadaya as the coalition’s preferred choices.
Explaining the alliance’s approach, Wike said political parties should be viewed as vehicles for achieving broader goals rather than as ends in themselves.
“After all, party is a vehicle that conveys you to where you are going. When you get there, you come down from the vehicle and you now work for the interest of the people,” he said.
Coalition Arrangement Affects Political Ticket
Wike also disclosed that the coalition’s political arrangement had already resulted in one politician giving up an electoral ticket.
Julius Adamu, the PDP chairmanship candidate in the last Area Council elections, stepped aside in favour of Joshua, the Bwari Area Council chairman.
The minister said he would recommend Adamu for a position at the FCT Universal Basic Education Commission.
Meanwhile, FCT APC Chairman Tanko Yamawo recalled the deep divisions that previously existed between the APC and PDP in the territory.
He recounted how a former PDP chairman had once declined a ride in his car because he feared that being seen in a vehicle belonging to an APC member could cost him his position.
The account was used to illustrate how much political relationships between members of the two parties had changed under the coalition arrangement.
FCT PDP Chairman Declares Coalition Is Here to Stay
The FCT PDP Chairman, Ismaila Dogara, expressed support for the alliance, declaring that the coalition was permanent and that his members were prepared to work towards Tinubu’s re-election.
Dogara’s remarks reinforced the coalition’s stated intention to unite members of different political parties behind a common electoral objective ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Wike’s comments signal an effort to consolidate political support for Tinubu in the FCT by bringing together politicians from different parties and highlighting the administration’s projects as a reason for residents to support its continuation.
