Wike Says Support For Tinubu Doesn’t Equate To Endorsing APC

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has clarified that his decision to support President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027 does not amount to an endorsement of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in other elections.

Wike said his commitment was specifically focused on helping Tinubu secure a second term as president, while the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) remains free to field candidates for governorship, National Assembly and state House of Assembly elections.

The minister made the clarification in a statement issued on Tuesday, by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka.

Wike also rejected claims that the political platform known as the “rainbow coalition” is an extension of the APC.

According to him, the coalition is made up of individuals and political parties working to mobilise support for Tinubu’s 2027 presidential bid.

He recalled that he and other members of the G5 supported Tinubu during the 2023 presidential election without first negotiating with the APC.

Wike said his position ahead of the 2027 election had remained consistent.

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The FCT minister argued that supporting Tinubu for president would not prevent voters from choosing candidates from other political parties in legislative and state elections.

He cited the outcome of the 2023 elections in Imo, Abia, Enugu and Ebonyi States, where APC candidates won some National Assembly seats despite Tinubu receiving significantly fewer presidential votes in those states.

“In Imo State under Governor Hope Uzodinma, how did APC win two Senate seats in 2023, in an election held the same day with that of the president and APC had less than 15 percent in the presidential election? Was it rainbow coalition? Were the voters confused?” he asked.

He also pointed to the APC’s performance in National Assembly elections in Ebonyi, Abia and Enugu States, where Tinubu recorded less than 10 percent of the presidential votes in some instances.

According to him, the 2023 results demonstrated that voters could support one party’s presidential candidate while choosing candidates from another party for legislative or state positions.

Wike urged political actors to focus first on Tinubu’s re-election before turning their attention to their individual state-level political contests.

The minister also distanced himself from responsibility for helping politicians resolve their political difficulties in their respective states.

He advised politicians facing challenges to address them within their local political structures, stressing that “politics is local.”

Wike warned political actors against using Tinubu’s re-election campaign to “whip up sentiments” over their individual political interests.

On the coalition, he maintained that the platform is distinct from the APC and is designed to mobilise support for Tinubu across political parties.