Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike has said his support for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election in 2027 is non-negotiable, stressing that he never promised that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) would not field candidates in other elections.
Wike said his backing was specifically for Tinubu’s presidential bid and should not be interpreted as an agreement for opposition parties to surrender governorship, National Assembly or State House of Assembly contests.
The minister stated this on Tuesday through his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka, amid growing political realignments ahead of the 2027 elections.
He also clarified that the emerging “rainbow coalition” was not an alliance with the All Progressives Congress (APC), but a platform involving members of different political parties to mobilise support for Tinubu’s re-election.
Wike recalled that he and other members of the G5 did not meet with the APC before supporting Tinubu in the 2023 presidential election. He said the same principle would guide his position in 2027.
“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,” he said.
The FCT Minister said presidential and state-level contests should be treated separately, stressing that “politics is local.”
Wike also said he would not assist politicians to win elections in their respective states, urging those facing political challenges at home to resolve them rather than use Tinubu’s re-election to stir political sentiments.
He cited the 2023 elections in the Southeast, where voters supported different parties in presidential and legislative contests held on the same day, as evidence that such voting patterns could continue in 2027.
Wike said political calculations should not be based solely on previous electoral standings, arguing that victory would depend on genuine mobilisation and support at the polling units.
“Politics is no longer about coming from fourth position to be governor; it is about genuinely mobilising support and winning elections from the polling units,” he said.