Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike has explained his decision not to serve as Director-General of President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council, stating that he is not an APC member and will not risk losing his political strongholds.

Speaking on Saturday after inspecting the Apo-Karshi and Kubwa-Bwari road projects in Abuja, Wike addressed questions regarding his role following the Presidency's announcement naming former Zamfara State Governor, Senator Abdulaziz Yari, as the campaign DG.

Drawing on political history, Wike pointed to previous campaign managers who lost their home states while leading national presidential campaigns.

"In 2015, the Minister of Transport was the governor of Rivers State. He was the DG of Muhammadu Buhari. Before you knew, I pulled the carpet off his feet. He lost. He didn’t get 25 percent," Wike said. "In 2019, he was Minister of Transport, he became the DG, and he lost his state too. Bukola Saraki was the DG of Atiku campaign in 2019... He lost his state! Lost his own seat, too! In 2023, Aminu Tambuwal became DG of Atiku. He lost his state! In the same 2023, Lalong was the DG of APC, the present president. He lost his state!"

Wike emphasized that his focus remains entirely on delivering electoral results in his key territories rather than holding a title.

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

Confirming that his party alignment remains unchanged, Wike reiterated that his non-membership in the ruling party excludes him from official APC campaign structures, though his support for President Tinubu remains firm.

"I am not a member of APC. So the issue of their Presidential Campaign Council is out of the question," Wike clarified. "When we were fighting for the President to be president in 2023, we were not members of the APC Presidential Campaign Council, but we were fighting."

He noted that his backing would continue through a cross-party "Rainbow Coalition," allowing politicians across various party lines to align support for the President in their respective states.


ID