2027: I’m commander of FCT election field operations — Wike

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has declared himself the commander of field operations for the 2027 elections in the FCT.

Wike made the declaration on Monday at a stakeholders’ meeting of the Rainbow Coalition in Abuja, where he said he would coordinate President Bola Tinubu’s re-election campaigns in both the FCT and Rivers State.

“I am in charge of the FCT election. I am the commander of field operations as far as the FCT election is concerned,” Wike said.

He said the coalition had agreed to work together to deliver Tinubu in 2027, irrespective of party affiliation.

“For the presidency, all of us have agreed that it is Bola Ahmed Tinubu. I am going to coordinate the FCT and Rivers State. So you can imagine how important it is,” he said.

The meeting brought together stakeholders from the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), including party chairmen, serving and former senators, National Assembly candidates and leaders from the FCT’s six area councils.

At the meeting, PDP candidates for the National Assembly openly declared support for APC candidates in the FCT.

Wike said the gathering was convened to establish a common political front ahead of the 2027 general elections.

“I want to let all of you know that we are going to work together. Nobody should say, ‘I am PDP’ or ‘I am APC.’ For the purpose of this election, we are together,” he said.

He cited the 2024 Edo State governorship election as evidence that such cross-party coalitions could influence electoral outcomes.

The minister said the coalition in the FCT had agreed to support Tinubu’s re-election, as well as APC candidates for the Senate and House of Representatives, while leaving other contests to be determined by the respective parties.

He challenged critics to name any of the six area councils that had not benefited from the current administration’s projects and reforms.

Wike listed the establishment of the FCT Civil Service Commission, the appointment of a substantive Head of Service from within the FCT workforce, and the creation of the Women Affairs and Youth Development Secretariats as key achievements.

On infrastructure, he mentioned road construction and rehabilitation, school renovations and the construction of police stations across the territory, expressing confidence that the administration’s performance would aid mobilisation for Tinubu in 2027.

He also defended the President’s economic reforms, acknowledging that they had caused temporary hardship but arguing that they were necessary.

“Changing the economy of a country is not like a prayer,” Wike said.

He reiterated his support for state police as a measure to tackle insecurity.