The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has reiterated that his support for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election in 2027 is specifically for the presidential election, stressing that he never promised that the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, would not field candidates in other elections.
Wike made the clarification in a statement issued on Tuesday by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka.
The minister said the PDP remained free to field candidates for governorship, National Assembly and State House of Assembly elections.
Wike also said the Rainbow Coalition had no connection with the All Progressives Congress, APC, describing it as a platform through which members of different political parties could mobilise support for Tinubu’s re-election.
He said he would not be responsible for helping individuals win elections in their respective states, arguing that political issues at the state level should be resolved locally.
The FCT Minister recalled that he and other members of the G5 did not meet with the APC before supporting Tinubu during the 2023 presidential election, adding that his position for 2027 remains focused on the President.
Wike cited the 2023 elections in Imo, Abia, Enugu and Ebonyi States, where voters supported different political parties in presidential and National Assembly elections.
He argued that the results demonstrated that voters could make separate choices in different contests.
The minister urged political stakeholders to prioritise the presidential election before turning their attention to contests in their respective states.
He said, “What I said and stand for is that I will mobilise support for the re-election of the President. I never promised anyone that PDP will not field candidates to contest governorship, National Assembly and State House of Assembly elections.”
Wike maintained that the Rainbow Coalition was separate from the APC, describing it as an avenue for mobilising support across political parties for Tinubu’s re-election.
