Tinubu to Visit Rivers on November 7 as Wike Calls for Political Loyalty Ahead of 2027 Elections
By Fact Harbour News
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is expected to visit Rivers State on November 7, 2026, as part of the All Progressives Congress campaign activities ahead of the 2027 general elections, with Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Nyesom Wike intensifying efforts to mobilise support for the President’s re-election bid.
The planned visit is part of the APC’s campaign timetable, which lists presidential appearances in 12 states between October 2026 and January 2027. Tinubu is scheduled to begin the campaign tour in Kaduna on October 24 before travelling to Rivers and other states in the following weeks.
The Rivers visit is expected to draw attention to the political alignments within the state, where Wike remains an influential political figure despite his continued membership of the Peoples Democratic Party.
On Monday, October 19, Wike met with supporters of Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara and youth leaders in Port Harcourt, urging them to put past disagreements aside and work towards securing substantial electoral support for Tinubu in 2027.
According to reports of the meeting, Wike argued that strong electoral backing for the President could improve Rivers State’s access to federal appointments and infrastructure projects. He urged political stakeholders to unite behind the campaign and strengthen grassroots mobilisation ahead of the elections.
The former Rivers governor also called on supporters to reconcile with aggrieved members and ensure that local political structures were prepared for the coming campaign activities.
Wike said his objective was to secure greater political influence and development opportunities for Rivers State, adding that his efforts were not aimed at returning to the governorship position.
The minister’s campaign activities have, however, generated debate within the APC because he remains a member of the opposition PDP. Some APC leaders have questioned whether a politician who has not formally joined the ruling party should coordinate its presidential campaign in Rivers and the FCT.
The controversy reflects wider disagreements within the ruling party over political alliances and the question of loyalty ahead of the 2027 elections. While some political actors support cooperation across party lines to secure Tinubu’s re-election, others argue that campaign structures should be controlled by members of the APC.
Wike has maintained that he has the political influence and organisational capacity to mobilise support for Tinubu in Rivers State and the Federal Capital Territory. He has also challenged political leaders appointed to campaign positions to demonstrate their effectiveness by delivering electoral support in their respective areas.
The planned presidential visit could therefore become an important moment for the APC’s mobilisation efforts in Rivers, where political divisions and competing interests have shaped the state’s recent political landscape.
As preparations continue, attention will focus on the level of participation by political stakeholders, the strength of grassroots mobilisation and the extent to which the campaign can bring different groups together behind Tinubu’s second-term ambition.
The APC’s timetable remains subject to possible adjustments, and further details about the Rivers rally are expected from the party as the date approaches.
