The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, has urged residents of Abuja not to repeat what he described as the mistake of the 2023 general election, calling on them to support President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027.
Wike made the call on Thursday during an interactive session organised by the Rainbow Coalition of the All Progressives Congress, APC, and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Bwari Area Council, Abuja.
He asked residents to reflect on their political choices in 2023 and decide whether they wanted to make the same decision in the next general election.
“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 minister urged residents to focus on the performance of political leaders rather than party affiliations, arguing that political parties should serve as platforms for delivering good governance.
“It doesn't matter the party. 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,” Wike said.
He also endorsed former FCT Senator Philip Aduda and John Gbadaya under the coalition’s political arrangement, describing Aduda as someone who understands the needs of residents.
Wike questioned the impact of the current FCT senator, Ireti Kingibe, asking residents whether they had felt her presence and contributions.
He said residents should support leaders who understand their challenges and can deliver results.
The minister also defended Tinubu’s administration, citing ongoing infrastructure projects in the FCT as evidence of the government’s commitment to development.
He promised that the Gombe-Kubwa road would be ready by December, expressing confidence that residents would use the road during the Christmas period.
Wike further disclosed that Julius Adamu, who contested for the Bwari Area Council chairmanship under the PDP in the last Area Council elections, had stepped down in support of the incumbent chairman, Joshua. He said he would recommend Adamu for a position in the FCT Universal Basic Education Commission.
The FCT APC chairman, Tanko Yamawo, commended Wike for bringing politicians from the two parties together.
According to him, the initiative could benefit political stakeholders across the territory.
“What you have done today is not for Aduda, Gbadaya and Chiya to benefit, but all of us as politicians in FCT are going to benefit from what you have started today,” Yamawo said.
The FCT PDP chairman, Ismaila Dogara, also said the Rainbow Coalition had come to stay.
'Support Tinubu in 2027’ - Wike urges Abuja residents to avoid 2023 mistake