I Won’t Risk Losing Rivers, FCT for APC Campaign DG Job — Wike

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has explained why he would not have accepted the position of Director-General of the All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council for the 2027 election.

Wike said he was unwilling to risk losing Rivers State and the Federal Capital Territory while campaigning for President Bola Tinubu, stressing that his priority was to deliver both territories rather than occupy a campaign position.

He spoke on Saturday after inspecting the ongoing construction of the Apo-Karshi and Kubwa-Bwari roads in Abuja.

His comments came a day after the Presidency announced the composition of the APC Presidential Campaign Council and named former Zamfara State Governor, Senator Abdulaziz Yari, as Director-General.

Wike recalled previous presidential campaign directors-general who lost their states while campaigning for their candidates.

He cited the 2015, 2019 and 2023 elections, mentioning former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi, former Senate President Bukola Saraki, former Sokoto State Governor Aminu Tambuwal and former Plateau State Governor Simon Lalong.

According to Wike, the experience of previous campaign directors-general showed that holding the position did not guarantee electoral success in their home states.

“I don’t want to lose my state! I will be in my state. I have two states: FCT and Rivers. What is important is that you are able to deliver those two states. So it is not about being DG,” Wike said.

He questioned the relevance of serving as campaign DG if the person could not deliver his own state.

“If you are DG and you don’t win your state, what is the essence of the DG?” he asked.

‘I am not a member of APC’

Wike also pointed to his non-membership of the APC as another reason he could not have headed the campaign council.

“I am not a member of APC. So the issue of their Presidential Campaign Council is out of the question,” he said.

However, he maintained that his support for Tinubu’s re-election would continue despite his membership of the Peoples Democratic Party.

Wike said his support would operate through the cross-party “Rainbow Coalition,” which he described as an alliance of politicians from different parties working to secure victory for Tinubu in their respective states.

He maintained that electoral performance, rather than political titles, would ultimately determine who succeeded in the 2027 elections.

The former Rivers State governor also expressed confidence about the political situation in Rivers State, saying, “I think there is only one state that is clear that will produce a governor. It is my state. It is very clear.”

The Presidency had earlier announced Yari as the APC campaign DG, with Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma appointed Secretary of the council.