FCT Minister Nyesom Wike has declared that securing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's re-election in 2027 is his foremost concern, asserting that the campaign will be less challenging than the 2023 race. Speaking at town hall meetings in Obio-Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State on Monday, October 5, 2026, Wike urged residents to set aside political sentiment and support Tinubu, citing the President's appointments and projects in the state as reasons for their backing.
Wike's Unwavering Focus on Tinubu's Re-election
According to The Punch, Wike addressed the Rumueme and Apara kingdoms, emphasising that thoughts of Tinubu's re-election dominate his daily life. "Each day I sleep, I am thinking about the president's re-election. When I am eating, I think about the president's re-election. Everything I am doing now is about the president's re-election," the former Rivers State governor said.
The minister appealed to Rivers residents to look beyond political loyalties and vote for Tinubu, arguing that the President had rewarded the state through appointments and what Wike called dividends of democracy. "Let us forget sentiment and vote for the person who has recognised the people of Rivers State with dividends of democracy and with several appointments," he stated.
Confidence in 2027 Victory
Wike expressed confidence that securing Tinubu's re-election in 2027 would be less difficult than the 2023 race. "I know the re-election of Tinubu in 2027 will be easier than that of 2023. We should appreciate Tinubu and ensure he gets a massive number of votes. We can do it," he added.
The minister also urged his allies and supporters in Rivers State to avoid internal squabbles and communal disputes, warning that such conflicts could undermine their political efforts ahead of the elections. "What will be, will be. You don't need to kill yourself. Anything that God said would be, it would be," Wike said.
Wike Dismisses Opposition Figures
Wike turned his attention to opposition figures, targeting former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and former Rivers State governor Rotimi Amaechi, both associated with the African Democratic Congress (ADC). He questioned whether the ADC ticket could secure the constitutionally required 25 per cent of votes in Rivers State.
The minister described the NDC presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and other opposition politicians as "unelectable." His remarks come amid ongoing political tensions in the state, with Wike also reacting to Amaechi's recent comments blaming Tinubu's economic policies for his mother's death. Wike questioned how Amaechi, who spent 24 years in top political positions, could claim he could not afford medication for his mother, and challenged Amaechi's assertion that his late mother's happiness was tied to the ADC's performance in the 2027 election.
