The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has reaffirmed his support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu ahead of the 2027 presidential election, urging political stakeholders in Rivers State to mobilise support for the President.
Wike made the declaration on Friday during a strategic consultative meeting with stakeholders of the Akpor Kingdom in Obio-Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State.
The former Rivers State governor also reiterated his pledge to resign as FCT Minister if Tinubu loses the presidential election in both Rivers State and the FCT.
Wike said his involvement in Rivers politics was driven by his desire to contribute to the development of the state rather than personal benefits.
“My interest in Rivers State is for God to use me as a vessel to help our people. I am back here not for what I will get, but for what I will be to raise my people,” he said.
The minister said political differences should not prevent politicians from working together in the collective interest of the people.
According to him, “there is no permanent enemy in politics; what we have is permanent collective interest.”
He added that numerical strength was important in politics, urging stakeholders to bring together people across political, religious and traditional lines.
“The more you are in number, the happier you become. Leadership is like a waste dustbin. If you cannot absorb things, both the good and the bad, then you cannot be a true leader,” Wike said.
Reflecting on his appointment as FCT Minister, Wike described his emergence as an outcome that had appeared unlikely given the political circumstances at the time.
“You know how difficult, you know how impossible it looked, but he made it possible for us to produce the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory,” he told the gathering.
Wike urged political actors in Obio-Akpor to disregard criticism over his engagement with former political opponents, insisting that the overriding objective should be to build a broad political structure.
He specifically called on traditional rulers, religious leaders, community leaders and politicians to work together ahead of the elections.
“Obio-Akpor as a whole, whether you are a politician, whether you are a traditional ruler, whether you are a pastor, or whether you are a native doctor, I need everybody now,” he said.
“Because all of them will vote. For the purpose of voting and elections, we must bring everyone together.”
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The minister also recalled his tenure as chairman of Obio-Akpor Local Government, saying his re-election was influenced by his interaction with residents and the impact of his administration.
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“I was not elected two times because I was just chairman. I was elected because people felt the impact of governance and because I related with the people,” he said.
Wike identified Wards 15, 16 and 17 in Obio-Akpor as strategically important to the electoral contest, noting that the three wards have more than 200 polling units.
“We have over 200 units across three very important wards—Ward 15, Ward 16, and Ward 17. These three wards can defeat ten wards in Obio-Akpor. They are three wards with a difference, and you must utilise them to make that difference,” he said.
He directed local political leaders to deploy coordinators and grassroots mobilisers to polling units and undertake door-to-door mobilisation ahead of the election.
Wike said the mobilisation should extend to families, in-laws, neighbours and other members of the community.
He also pledged to continue playing a watchdog role in Rivers State, describing himself as the state’s “Chief Critic” who would hold elected local government officials accountable to the people.
The meeting was attended by the Rivers State APC governorship candidate, Kingsley Chinda, and other political leaders.
Wike’s declaration follows his earlier pledge that he would resign as FCT Minister if Tinubu fails to win both Rivers State and the FCT in the January 16, 2027 presidential election.
