Wike: Why I Won’t Head Tinubu’s 2027 Campaign Council
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has explained why he would not head President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s 2027 presidential campaign council, saying his priority is to deliver electoral victories for the President in Rivers State and the Federal Capital Territory rather than pursue a prominent campaign position.
Wike spoke on Saturday, August 22, 2026, while inspecting ongoing road projects in Abuja, shortly after the Presidency announced the composition of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council and named former Zamfara State Governor, Senator Abdulaziz Yari, as its Director-General.
The former Rivers State governor said he would have declined the position even if it had been offered to him, arguing that political relevance should be measured by the ability to deliver electoral results rather than by the title attached to a campaign role.
‘I Don’t Want to Lose My State’
Wike cited the experiences of several politicians who previously served as directors-general of presidential campaigns but subsequently lost their home states during the elections.
He referenced former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi, former Senate President Bukola Saraki, former Sokoto State Governor Aminu Tambuwal and former Plateau State Governor Simon Lalong.
According to Wike, these examples demonstrate that holding a national campaign position does not necessarily translate into electoral success in one’s own political base.
“I don’t want to lose my state! I will be in my state. I have two states: FCT and Rivers,” Wike said, according to reports of his remarks.
He questioned the usefulness of serving as campaign director-general if the person cannot secure victory in their own state.
“If you are DG and you don’t win your state, what is the essence of the DG?” he asked.
Wike Says He Is Not an APC Member
The FCT minister also gave a second reason for not heading the APC campaign council.
Wike pointed out that he is not a member of the ruling APC, making membership of the party’s formal presidential campaign structure inappropriate in his view.
“I am not a member of APC. So the issue of their Presidential Campaign Council is out of the question,” he said.
His position is consistent with an earlier statement in which he rejected reports that he was lobbying to become director-general of Tinubu’s campaign.
At the time, Wike said he did not need to hold a position within the APC campaign structure to support Tinubu’s re-election bid.
Support for Tinubu Remains
Although Wike has ruled out heading the APC campaign council, he reiterated his support for President Tinubu’s re-election.
He recalled that he and his political allies supported Tinubu during the 2023 presidential election without being members of the APC Presidential Campaign Council.
“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,” Wike said.
He said his political group would similarly pursue its own strategy ahead of the 2027 election.
‘Rainbow Coalition’ Strategy
Wike also referred to the Rainbow Coalition, a cross-party political arrangement involving politicians from different parties who support Tinubu’s re-election while retaining their individual party affiliations.
He said the coalition was already working in several states, including Rivers, Osun, Bayelsa, Kwara and Benue.
According to Wike, the approach allows politicians who support the President to work towards his victory without necessarily joining the APC or becoming part of the party’s formal campaign council.
The arrangement could become significant as political alignments develop ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Wike Focuses on Rivers and FCT
The minister said his immediate political objective is to help secure support for Tinubu in Rivers State and the FCT.
He described electoral performance at the state and grassroots levels as more important than national campaign titles.
His comments come at a time when political parties and groups are beginning to intensify preparations for the 2027 elections.
The APC has already established a formal campaign structure, while opposition parties and emerging political coalitions are also developing their strategies for the election.
Yari Takes Campaign DG Role
Wike’s comments came shortly after the Presidency announced Senator Abdulaziz Yari as Director-General of Tinubu’s 2027 Presidential Campaign Council.
The former Zamfara governor is expected to coordinate the day-to-day activities of the campaign as the APC prepares to defend the presidency.
The appointment places Yari at the centre of the ruling party’s national mobilisation efforts, while other senior politicians have also been assigned responsibilities within the campaign structure.
Wike’s decision to stay outside the formal council means his support for Tinubu will be pursued through his own political network and the cross-party coalition he referenced.
Campaign Positions and Electoral Results
Wike’s argument highlights a recurring feature of Nigerian politics: the importance of a politician’s ability to deliver electoral support within their home state.
Campaign positions can provide national visibility, but the ultimate assessment of political influence often comes from election results.
For Wike, therefore, winning Rivers and supporting Tinubu’s performance in the FCT appear to be more important than occupying a national campaign office.
His comments also suggest that political cooperation with the Tinubu administration does not necessarily require formal membership of the APC.
2027 Political Alignments Take Shape
With the 2027 election approaching, politicians across Nigeria are increasingly defining their positions and building alliances.
The APC’s campaign council is now taking shape, while groups outside the ruling party are also preparing alternative political arrangements.
Wike’s continued support for Tinubu despite remaining outside the APC illustrates the complexity of the political alignments ahead of the election.
Whether the Rainbow Coalition can translate its cross-party structure into actual votes will ultimately be determined by the results of the 2027 elections.
For now, Wike has made his position clear: he does not want a campaign title; he wants to focus on delivering electoral results for Tinubu in Rivers State and the FCT.
This report is based on recent statements attributed to Nyesom Wike and reports from Channels Television, The Nation and other Nigerian media outlets. Political positions expressed by individuals are presented as attributed statements and not as independently established facts.
