ABUJA: President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is considering a specific role for Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, in the political mobilisation for the 2027 presidential election, with the former Rivers State governor expected to focus on Rivers State and the Federal Capital Territory.
The proposed arrangement would allow Wike to deploy his political network in the two territories in support of Tinubu’s re-election bid without requiring him to formally leave the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) or take up a senior position within the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Wike remains a member of the PDP but has openly declared his support for Tinubu ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
The reported arrangement comes amid continuing differences between Wike and some APC governors over the structure and coordination of support for Tinubu.
Wike has repeatedly maintained that he does not need to join the APC before supporting the President.
He has also dismissed suggestions that his political influence should be measured by whether he receives a senior position in the APC Presidential Campaign Council.
In August, following the unveiling of the APC Presidential Campaign Council and the appointment of former Zamfara State Governor Abdulaziz Yari as Director-General, Wike said his priority was delivering Rivers State and the FCT for Tinubu rather than seeking the campaign director-general position.
What’s important is that you are able to deliver those two states. So it’s not about being DG. If you’re DG and you don’t win your state, what’s the essence of the DG?” Wike said.
He added: I don’t want to lose my state.
The proposed arrangement would therefore give the FCT minister a defined area of responsibility while keeping him outside the formal leadership structure of the APC.
Wike’s expected role is significant because of his eight-year tenure as governor of Rivers State and his position as FCT minister since 2023.
The minister has repeatedly asserted that he retains considerable political influence in Rivers and the FCT and has pledged to work for Tinubu’s victory in the presidential election.
During a recent media engagement, Wike described himself as the “General Commander of the Political Infantry” and argued that holding the office of governor was not a prerequisite for maintaining political influence.
You do not need to be governor before you can be in charge. I am the General Commander of the Political Infantry; therefore, I am in charge, he said.
Wike has also distinguished his support for Tinubu’s presidential bid from support for individual politicians contesting governorship and legislative elections.
He has said that his political mobilisation is primarily directed at securing Tinubu’s return to the presidency and should not automatically be interpreted as an endorsement of candidates seeking other elective positions.
Wike described the Rainbow Coalition as a cross-party mobilisation platform established to support Tinubu.
Rainbow coalition has nothing to do with the APC. Rather, it is our own way of mobilising support across political parties for Mr President, who has done well to deserve a second term, he said.
The arrangement has, however, generated disagreements with some APC governors who have questioned the need for a separate political structure outside the ruling party.
Imo State Governor and Chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum, Hope Uzodimma, previously stated that APC governors had rejected the Rainbow Coalition.
Wike subsequently criticised some APC governors, including Uzodimma and Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman Abdulrazaq, accusing some politicians of being more concerned about receiving recognition for supporting Tinubu than building genuine support for the President.
You see, the problem with people, they want them to be seen, that they are the people working for the President. I don’t do that, Wike said.
Under the proposed arrangement, Wike would concentrate on Rivers State and the FCT, while other senior figures would retain their respective campaign responsibilities.
Abdulaziz Yari is expected to remain Director-General of the Presidential Campaign Council.
The emerging structure, however, is not expected to function entirely through a single chain of command.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau are reportedly expected to operate within the campaign structure without necessarily reporting directly to Yari.
Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, is also expected to play a prominent role in Tinubu’s 2027 campaign, particularly in communications.
Keyamo has extensive experience in presidential campaign communication. He served as a spokesperson and Director of Public Affairs during Tinubu’s 2023 presidential campaign and held a senior communications role during former President Muhammadu Buhari’s 2019 re-election campaign.
He subsequently served as Minister of State for Labour and Employment under Buhari before becoming Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development under Tinubu.
The reported campaign arrangements indicate that Tinubu’s 2027 political mobilisation is taking shape around multiple figures and structures, with Wike expected to concentrate on Rivers State and the FCT while other campaign leaders handle broader national responsibilities.
