… Minister Says Party Differences Won’t Stop Coalition’s Presidential Agenda
The political landscape in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) ahead of the 2027 general elections may be heading towards a cross-party alliance, following the decision of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Assembly candidates to declare support for their counterparts in the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The development emerged on Monday at a stakeholders’ meeting of the Rainbow Coalition in Abuja, where the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, announced plans to coordinate President Bola Tinubu’s re-election campaign in both the FCT and Rivers State.
The meeting brought together political stakeholders from the two parties, including party chairmen, serving and former senators, National Assembly candidates and leaders from the six area councils of the FCT.
Wike said the coalition had agreed to work collectively towards Tinubu’s re-election, regardless of the political parties to which its members belonged.
He also disclosed that the agreement in the FCT extended to supporting APC candidates contesting senatorial and House of Representatives seats.
“For the presidency, all of us have agreed that it is Bola Ahmed Tinubu. I am going to coordinate the FCT and Rivers State. So you can imagine how important it is,” the minister said.
“I am in charge of the FCT election. I am the commander of field operations as far as the FCT election is concerned.”
Wike Prioritises Presidential Election
The former Rivers State governor explained that the coalition was primarily focused on the presidential election, while political parties would retain the freedom to determine their positions on other contests.
He urged participants to put aside partisan differences and embrace cooperation in pursuit of their shared objective.
“I want to let all of you know that we are going to work together. Nobody should say, ‘I am PDP’ or ‘I am APC.’ For the purpose of this election, we are together,” he said.
Wike cited the 2024 Edo State governorship election as an example of how collaboration among political interests could shape electoral outcomes.
He claimed that cooperation between elements of the APC and PDP had helped prevent the incumbent governor from installing a successor, adding that the experience demonstrated the importance of strategic alliances.
The minister’s remarks suggest that the Rainbow Coalition intends to mobilise support beyond traditional party boundaries as preparations for the 2027 elections gather momentum.
Infrastructure Takes Centre Stage in Tinubu’s Re-election Argument
To justify the coalition’s support for Tinubu, Wike challenged political stakeholders to identify any of the FCT’s six area councils that had not benefited from the administration’s infrastructure projects and institutional reforms.
He highlighted road construction and rehabilitation, school renovations, police stations and other public facilities as projects being undertaken across the territory.
The minister also pointed to the establishment of the FCT Civil Service Commission, the appointment of a Head of the Civil Service from within the territory’s workforce and the creation of the Women Affairs and Youth Development Secretariats.
According to him, the initiatives had expanded opportunities for career progression among civil servants and strengthened participation in governance.
Wike maintained that the administration’s record in infrastructure development and institutional reforms would form an important part of the coalition’s mobilisation campaign.
Minister Defends Economic Reforms, Backs State Police
Addressing concerns about the country’s economic situation, Wike defended Tinubu’s reform policies, acknowledging that some decisions had imposed hardship but arguing that difficult measures were necessary to address longstanding economic problems.
“Changing the economy of a country is not like a prayer,” he said, suggesting that the benefits of the reforms might not be immediately apparent.
He also backed the proposed establishment of state police, describing it as an important measure for tackling Nigeria’s security challenges.
The meeting’s most notable political development was the willingness of PDP National Assembly candidates to publicly support APC candidates, alongside the coalition’s commitment to Tinubu’s re-election.
However, the extent to which the arrangement will influence individual legislative contests remains dependent on the positions ultimately adopted by the participating political stakeholders.
For Wike, the immediate objective is to build a common platform that can mobilise support for Tinubu in the FCT and Rivers State, using cross-party cooperation as the basis of the coalition’s 2027 strategy.
