2027: Wike Says Tinubu Support Is Firm, PDP Free to Contest Other Elections
E-ISSN: 2354-4481
By Ibinabo Larry
PORT HARCOURT, RIVERS STATE — Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has reaffirmed his support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election in 2027, clarifying that he never promised that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) would not field candidates in governorship, National Assembly and State House of Assembly elections.
Wike made the clarification in a statement issued on Tuesday, September 15, 2026, by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka.
The FCT Minister said his support for Tinubu was specifically focused on the presidential election and should not be interpreted as an agreement to prevent the PDP or other political parties from contesting elections at the state and legislative levels.
According to him, the “rainbow coalition” being promoted by himself and other political actors has no connection with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
He described the coalition as a platform through which members of different political parties could mobilise support for Tinubu’s re-election based on their assessment of his administration’s performance.
“What I said and stand for is that I will mobilise support for the re-election of the President. I never promised anyone that PDP will not field candidates to contest governorship, National Assembly and States House of Assembly elections,” Wike said.
He added that the coalition was intended to bring together individuals and groups across political parties in support of the President.
“Most importantly, 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.
Wike also rejected the suggestion that he and members of the G5 governors had entered into an arrangement with the APC before supporting Tinubu during the 2023 presidential election.
He said they did not meet with the APC before taking their decision in 2023 and maintained that his position for 2027 remained support for Tinubu at the presidential level.
The minister further argued that political support at different levels of an election does not necessarily have to follow the same party line.
He cited the 2023 elections in Imo, Abia, Enugu and Ebonyi states, where, according to him, voters supported APC candidates in some National Assembly contests while voting for other parties in the presidential election.
“In Imo State under Governor Hope Uzodinma, how did APC win two senate seats in 2023, in an election held the same day with that of the President and APC had less than 15 percent in the presidential election? Was it rainbow coalition? Were the voters confused?” he asked.
Wike similarly referenced APC victories in National Assembly elections in Ebonyi, Abia and Enugu, despite the party recording comparatively lower presidential votes in those states.
He said the voting pattern demonstrated that voters could distinguish between presidential, legislative and state elections.
The minister also said he would not be responsible for helping political actors secure electoral victories in their respective states.
“I won't be the one to help people to win elections in their States,” he said, urging politicians facing challenges in their states to resolve them locally.
He maintained that “politics is local” and cautioned against using Tinubu’s 2027 presidential re-election bid to create unnecessary political sentiments or settle state-level disputes.
Wike urged political stakeholders to prioritise Tinubu’s presidential campaign before turning their attention to governorship and legislative contests.
“After the President must have been reelected, we can all go and face elections in our States,” he said.
The minister also dismissed the notion that electoral politics should be based on attempts to replicate past political calculations, saying genuine grassroots mobilisation and support at polling units would determine the outcome of future elections.
His comments come as political parties and emerging coalitions intensify preparations for the 2027 general elections, with alliances and possible realignments expected to shape contests at both presidential and sub-national levels.
The 2027 general elections are expected to feature intense competition among Nigeria’s major political parties and emerging political coalitions. Wike, a former governor of Rivers State and prominent PDP figure, has remained one of the political actors associated with the G5 governors who opposed the PDP’s presidential campaign strategy in 2023. His continued support for President Tinubu has generated debate within the PDP and across the wider opposition political landscape.
