Wike challenges APC governors to deliver states for Tinubu in 2027

…says he has the mandate of PDP to back Tinubu’s re-election 

Nyesom Wike, the minister of Federal Capital Territory, FCT, on Wednesday challenged governors of the All Progressive Congress (APC), to measure their success in 2027 election by their ability to deliver their states

Tinubu had earlier named Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke and Anambra State Governor Chukwuma Soludo as coordinators for Osun and Anambra respectively.

Wike who is the national leader of the Peoples Democratic Party, said he was acting on behalf of the party and dismissed suggestions that there were rival leaders within the party.

“For me, as an opposition party member, as the leader of the People’s Democratic Party, there are no two leaders of the PDP. I am the leader of the PDP. So I speak on behalf of the Peoples Democratic Party.”

He argued that genuine opposition does not mean rejecting good performance by the ruling party.

“Democracy is not that if the ruling party is doing well, because you are opposition, you say they are not doing well. That is not democracy.”

Wike said the APC deserved support because President Tinubu had confronted problems previous administrations had avoided.

“You’ve not shied away from problems. When you see problems, you want to tackle them. Previous administrations in this country have similarly identified these problems, but everybody has shied away from taking head-on these problems.”

The FCT Minister singled out the proposed state police as evidence of decisive leadership, saying insecurity could reduce substantially once the reform is completed.

“I hear people talk about insecurity. So many people have said, if you create state police, the insecurity in this country will be reduced…

“But nobody has taken a step towards creating state police. By the grace of God, in the last few months, I am sure that will be passed to have state police in Nigeria. That is leadership.”

He added that Nigeria had never had a president with the level of support and encouragement now being mobilised for Tinubu’s re-election.

“Never in our political history has a president had the kind of support and encouragement to say that Nigerians indeed would want you back to complete the good works you have started.”

Wike described his campaign role as straightforward but binding, pledging to personally ensure that both Rivers and the FCT deliver for the President.

“I opened leadership today, and I saw my name, and I was told that I am going to coordinate FCT and Rivers. Simple, not too much work for me… Rivers and FCT will vote massively for Bola Ahmed Tinubu.”

He said he had already told residents of the FCT that they had no reason to withhold support from Tinubu.

“I told the people of FCT: why would you not vote for Mr President? I challenge any area council that can say they do not feel the presence of Mr President.”

In what appeared to be a direct message to APC governors and other senior campaign figures, Wike said titles within the council were irrelevant without electoral delivery.

“If you don’t deliver your state and the president wins, don’t say we have won. It is not a question of ‘I am chairman of this’, ‘I am secretary of this’, ‘I am a member of this’. What is important is for the president to win.”

He recalled telling the Chief of Staff to the President that Lagos, too, must be won.

“I told the Chief of Staff to the President the other day: as Chief of Staff, if the President would win but you don’t win in Lagos, don’t say we have won, because you did not win.”

“January 16, 2027, to the glory of God, we will come back here and say thank you to the Almighty God.”