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🇳🇬 Nigeria /Elections & Politics

I don’t need a role to deliver victory for Tinubu – Wike

From The Punch · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

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  • - FCT Minister Nyesom Wike stated he doesn't need a role in the APC campaign council to ensure President Tinubu's 2027 victory.
  • Wike emphasized that electoral success depends on a politician's ability to win their own states and local areas, not just campaign council membership.
  • He cited examples of past campaign directors who failed to win their home states, questioning the essence of such roles without local victory.

Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike declared on Saturday that he does not require a position within the All Progressives Congress campaign council to secure President Bola Tinubu's victory in the 2027 election. Wike, speaking after inspecting ongoing projects in the FCT, asserted that campaign council membership does not guarantee electoral success.

I am not a member of the APC, so I cannot be in the presidential campaign council. We had our own strategies on how the presidency would emerge.

— Nyesom WikeExplaining his exclusion from the APC Presidential Campaign Council.

His remarks followed the unveiling of Tinubu's presidential campaign council, which named former Zamfara State governor Abdulaziz Yari as Director-General and Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma as secretary. Wike, who is not a member of the APC, explained that political relevance in presidential elections hinges on a politician's capacity to win their home states, local governments, and wards. He dismissed the idea that exclusion from the campaign council would hinder key political actors from contributing to the President's re-election efforts.

In the Rainbow Coalition, we don’t need to be members of the APC Presidential Campaign Council. We are doing our own work.

— Nyesom WikeDescribing his independent campaign strategy for President Tinubu.

Wike highlighted the strategies of the Rainbow Coalition, which he established in Rivers State to support Tinubu's second-term bid, stating that its plans are already in motion. "We are doing our own work," he said, emphasizing his direct control over campaigns in Rivers State and the FCT. He pointed to several politicians who served as campaign Directors-General but failed to secure victories in their home states, including Rotimi Amaechi, Bukola Saraki, Aminu Tambuwal, and Simon Lalong. "If you are DG and you don’t win your state, what is the essence of the DG?" Wike questioned, suggesting that failure to win one's own state would lead to embarrassment.

What is important is: are you able to deliver those two states? Who will be in charge of the Rivers State campaign? Me. Who will be in charge of FCT? Me.

— Nyesom WikeHighlighting his personal influence and control over key campaign areas.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by The Punch. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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