Rivers Can Vote Tinubu, Reject Other APC Candidates – Wike
Rivers Can Vote Tinubu, Reject Other APC Candidates – Wike
FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has said Rivers State voters can support President Bola Tinubu’s re-election in 2027 while voting against the All Progressives Congress (APC) in legislative elections.
Wike said the Rainbow Coalition, which comprises his political supporters and some APC members, was formed to secure Tinubu’s victory in the presidential election and would not stop its members from backing candidates of other parties in state and National Assembly elections.
He spoke on Thursday during a media chat with journalists in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
According to him, members of the coalition had agreed to work towards a common presidential objective while retaining their political interests in other elections.
“How does it conflict? Because we are not talking to your supporters. You have told your supporters. I have told my supporters. What’s the conflict?” he asked.
Wike said Tinubu’s re-election was his immediate political priority, adding that support for the president did not necessarily extend to APC candidates in other elections.
“As it is today, the priority should be that Mr President wins the election. That’s my priority. I am not there to tell you it will affect the National Assembly election. That’s the local election,” Wike said.
“You should see. President, APC. House of Reps, APC. Governor, APC. Assembly, PDP..
“We did not start today. More than two years ago, we started this journey. You have just seen us now coming out openly. But we started this journey. It’s a process,” he said.
Wike also rejected suggestions that one person controlled the coalition, saying its decisions involved consultations and consideration of political interests at different levels.
On the legal dispute involving former Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha and his successor, Hope Uzodimma, Wike denied allegations that he was behind the court ruling in Okorocha’s favour in a senatorial dispute.
“I would not want to go into the stress of anybody calling my name. It would be mischievous. I didn’t go to court. I’m not an APC. I don’t know what the issues were,” he said.
He also defended his friendship with Okorocha, arguing that political disagreements between his friends and other politicians would not determine his personal relationships.
“Rochas is my friend. You don’t choose my friends. I’m sorry, will you kill me because my friend is quarrelling with you or has an issue with you in your state?” he asked.
The FCT minister also denied claims that he had unilaterally selected candidates for the Rainbow Coalition in Rivers State without the involvement of Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
He cited Fubara’s unveiling of the candidates as evidence that the governor was part of the arrangement.
“Who unveiled the candidates? He did. It’s not everything you see like this that you talk about. There are things that go underground,” Wike said.
He also dismissed concerns about Fubara’s political prospects after leaving office.
“Fubara is a young man. So he cannot say his political future is gone. He can’t say that. Don’t call him minister today. Doesn’t mean he will not be minister tomorrow,” he said.
On the PDP’s prospects in the 2027 presidential election, Wike expressed doubt that the party could defeat Tinubu.
He said he had openly declared his support for Tinubu even before the disagreements within the PDP were resolved.
“I clearly said I was going to support Bola Ahmed Tinubu. I didn’t hide it. Even before the problem was settled, I said, look, with the damage that has been done, we need to go back and reorganise and plan against the future,” he said.
Wike also criticised the previous Rivers State administration over reported expenditure on mosquito fumigation, a proposed specialist hospital and the planting of trees along major roads.
He questioned the amount reportedly spent on a proposed 1,000-bed specialist hospital, alleging that construction had yet to begin despite the huge expenditure.
He also criticised the reported cost of planting trees along a major road, describing the expenditure as an embarrassment.
Wike said residents should judge political leaders by their records in office and their attention to the needs of the people.
“Leadership is key. You’ve been close to your people. What do they want? … Governance is not only awarding contracts. How close are you?” he said.
