Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike has said he will personally inaugurate and lead the campaign machinery for President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid in Abuja and Rivers State, signaling a consolidation of support from key political figures outside the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Wike made the declaration on Chikuku, a community along the Kuje-Gwagwalada artery in Abuja, following an inspection of the ongoing Phase Two dualisation of the Kuje-Gwagwalada road.
He told reporters that political parties across the spectrum were already organizing their ranks, while supporters of the President from different platforms had “put our machinery ready to fully kickstart.”
“Very soon, I will inaugurate the campaign team for Tinubu in the FCT and Rivers State, which I will lead,” Wike said, adding that “all elements of the APC are ready, Mr President is ready, we are ready, and you can see the enthusiasm.”
Addressing critics and potential opponents ahead of the 2027 election cycle, Wike argued that visible development projects would drive electoral support in the FCT, dismissing allegations of electoral malpractice before they could gain traction.
He framed the administration’s infrastructure push as the core of its political appeal.
“People are happy, and I don’t know who will contest against Mr President as far as this election is concerned,” he said.
“This is governance, and this is what people expect. It will translate directly into actual votes,” the Minister added.
Wike expressed confidence that the territory’s infrastructure record would secure victory not only for Tinubu but also for Sen. Philip Aduda and the FCT’s two House of Representatives seats.
“It is very obvious. Nobody will be able to claim rigging in the FCT. The ‘rigging’ is the projects we are delivering, making the people happy,” he added.
On the Kuje-Gwagwalada project itself, Wike assured stakeholders that adequate funding would be disbursed to guarantee completion by December.
The road, being executed by Gilmor Engineering, is designed to improve connectivity between Kuje Area Council and Gwagwalada, a growing corridor in the FCT, Wike said.
“This is my first time getting to this side of the road, and I can see how highly populated this area is,” Wike added, stressing that delivering functional infrastructure remains the cornerstone of good governance and public satisfaction.
“You can imagine the enthusiasm and happiness on the faces of the people. That is why we say the essence of governance is to make people happy.
When the people are happy, those in authority are happy,” he said.
He also expressed gratitude to President Tinubu for sustained support for capital projects in the territory, linking federal backing to the pace of delivery on the ground.
Wike’s move formalizes a role foreshadowed in recent weeks, as reports indicated he had been appointed coordinator of Tinubu’s campaign structure in Rivers State and the FCT while retaining his membership in the Peoples Democratic Party.
Earlier, he had explained that he could not serve as national Director-General of the APC Presidential Campaign Council because he is not an APC member and did not want to risk losing political influence in Rivers and the FCT.
By leading the campaign effort in Abuja and his home state, Wike positions himself as a pivotal bridge between Tinubu’s administration and key voting blocs in the South-South and the capital, betting that a record of road construction and other infrastructure will outweigh traditional party allegiances in 2027.
