The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has expressed confidence that President Bola Tinubu will win the 2027 presidential election in Rivers State with ease, urging residents to support the All Progressives Congress (APC) at all levels.
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Wike made the declaration on Thursday during a town hall meeting in Abonnema, Akuku-Toru Local Government Area of Rivers State. He said the political structure being mobilised across the state was firmly behind Tinubu and other APC candidates ahead of the January 16, 2027 election.
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He urged residents to support Tinubu’s re-election bid, as well as the APC governorship candidate, Kingsley Chinda, and other party candidates contesting seats in the Senate, House of Representatives and Rivers State House of Assembly.
The minister described the APC as the strongest political platform ahead of the elections, arguing that voting for candidates outside the party in the area would amount to wasting votes.
He specifically cautioned residents against supporting a son of the area contesting the governorship election under the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), insisting that the party lacked the political strength to win either the presidency or governorship.
Wike acknowledged that the people wanted one of their own to become governor but argued that political realities should take precedence over emotional attachment to a candidate.
He said the area already had a governorship candidate and deputy governor from its political fold under the APC, adding that supporting another candidate on a platform he considered electorally weak would not advance the interests of the people.
The former Rivers State governor also dismissed the prospects of opposition parties mounting a strong challenge against Tinubu in 2027. He cited the crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the difficulties involved in building a formidable opposition coalition.
Wike maintained that the PDP would struggle to present a credible presidential candidate capable of challenging Tinubu, urging residents to continue supporting the President.
The FCT minister also defended Tinubu’s economic policies, particularly the removal of the fuel subsidy, describing the decision as an indication of political courage and leadership.
Although he acknowledged that the policies had caused hardship for Nigerians, he maintained that the sacrifices were temporary and necessary to reposition the country.
According to Wike, previous administrations avoided taking difficult decisions because of the political consequences, but Tinubu had demonstrated the courage to implement them.
He cited former Central Bank of Nigeria Governor and Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, as having questioned whether a conventional politician seeking a second term would take such politically risky decisions.
Wike expressed confidence that Tinubu’s policies would produce positive results when fully implemented and stabilised, adding that the country needed leadership capable of taking difficult decisions.
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He also credited the Tinubu administration with improving federal revenue allocations to states and local governments, noting that local government chairmen now had more resources to execute development projects.
The minister further claimed that Rivers State had received at least 47 federal appointments under the current administration, describing the figure as unprecedented when compared with previous governments.
He contrasted the number of appointments with what he said the state received under former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo, Goodluck Jonathan and Muhammadu Buhari.
Wike also identified the completion of the Bodo-Bonny Road as one of the major benefits of the Tinubu administration to Rivers State. He noted that residents who previously depended on water transportation could now travel by road.
The minister recalled projects executed during his tenure as Rivers governor, including road and bridge construction, the rehabilitation of facilities and the recognition of traditional rulers in Abonnema and neighbouring communities.
He challenged opposition politicians seeking support in Akuku-Toru to explain their contributions to the development of the area.
Wike also criticised opposition presidential hopefuls, particularly former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi, dismissing what he described as social media popularity and public displays of humility as insufficient qualifications for leading the country.
He argued that Nigerians needed a president with the capacity, courage and political experience to take difficult decisions, rather than one whose popularity was built around social media activities.
The minister urged Akuku-Toru residents to vote for APC candidates from the presidency to the National Assembly and state legislature, insisting that the area stood to benefit from remaining within the ruling party’s political structure.
He expressed confidence that the APC would produce the President, governor, senator, members of the House of Representatives and state lawmakers from the area, reiterating his expectation of Tinubu’s victory in Rivers State in 2027.
Earlier, Wike had paid a traditional homage to the Amanyanabo of Abonnema, HRM King Disrael Gbobo Bob-Manuel II.
The monarch expressed gratitude for past infrastructural interventions in the community and the prevailing peace, development and cooperation in the region.
He said the community was hopeful that the political unity being demonstrated would help prevent the tension and violence often associated with election periods.
The Chairman of Akuku-Toru Local Government Area, Aboiya Bob-Fubara, also pledged to continue mobilising residents in support of Tinubu’s re-election and other APC candidates.
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