The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has urged political allies supporting President Bola Tinubu to begin preparations for the 2027 general elections by ensuring victory for the President at the ward, local government and state levels.
Wike said political supporters should concentrate on producing results in their respective areas instead of seeking positions in the presidential campaign structure.
The minister spoke on Saturday while addressing journalists after inspecting some ongoing road projects in Abuja.
According to him, political influence is ultimately measured by the ability of politicians to deliver electoral support in their home constituencies.
Wike said anyone seeking a major role in the 2027 presidential campaign should first be able to demonstrate that they can secure victory for Tinubu in their own state.
He maintained that occupying a position such as Director-General of the presidential campaign council would have little value if the person could not deliver their political base.
The minister said he would rather remain focused on his political strongholds than pursue a senior position in the campaign organisation.
Wike recalled that some politicians who previously headed presidential campaign organisations were unable to secure victory for their candidates in their respective states.
He mentioned former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, former Senate President, Bukola Saraki, former Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal, and former Plateau State Governor, Simon Lalong, among others.
According to Wike, his priority is to ensure that his political base records victory, noting that he considers both Rivers State and the FCT as areas of political responsibility.
The minister also clarified that he does not need to belong to the All Progressives Congress to support Tinubu’s re-election bid.
Wike said he was not an APC member and therefore had no intention of joining the APC Presidential Campaign Council simply to demonstrate his support for the President.
He explained that political groups that backed Tinubu during the 2023 presidential election operated across party lines under what he described as a “Rainbow Coalition”.
He said similar political arrangements could emerge ahead of the 2027 election, depending on the circumstances in individual states.
Wike said the various groups supporting Tinubu could work independently while still contributing to the President’s re-election campaign.
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The FCT minister also pointed to the ongoing infrastructure projects across Abuja as evidence of the Tinubu administration’s performance.
He argued that completed projects and their impact on residents would provide a stronger campaign message than political promises.
According to him, development projects that improve the lives of residents should be regarded as the real campaign for any government seeking re-election.
Wike made the remarks while inspecting the Apo-Karshi Road and the 14-kilometre dualisation of the Bwari-Kubwa Satellite Town access road.
Speaking on the Apo-Karshi project, the minister said the road had remained unfinished for years after the original contract was awarded in 2010.
He explained that the FCT Administration terminated the earlier contract because of the importance of the road and complaints from residents over the prolonged delay.
The project was subsequently awarded to SCC, which, according to Wike, had made considerable progress since taking over the work.
The minister said the contractor had given an assurance that the Apo-Karshi Road would be completed by November.
He commended SCC for continuing construction despite challenges associated with payments and said the company’s continued presence on the site showed confidence in the government’s commitment to meeting its financial obligations.
Wike also inspected the Bwari-Kubwa road project, describing the 14-kilometre dualisation as an important intervention for communities in the satellite towns.
He said the project would improve transportation between Bwari and Kubwa while supporting economic activities and making movement easier for residents.
The minister said the road was part of the infrastructure projects being delivered under the Tinubu administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
He disclosed that the FCT Administration planned to complete and commission several major projects before the 2027 elections.
Wike said he had previously set a target of commissioning 10 major projects before the election, but the number could increase because of the progress being recorded at various construction sites.
He expressed satisfaction with the pace of work and said the administration would continue to push contractors to complete projects that would have a direct impact on residents and economic activities across the capital.
The minister said the priority remained to ensure that infrastructure promises made to residents were converted into completed projects rather than remaining on paper.
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