By Ayodele Quadri, Lagos Times Correspondent
Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike stated that he would have turned down any offer to serve as the Director-General of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s presidential campaign council, explaining that taking on a national campaign role would distract him from securing political control in his home state of Rivers and managing the FCT.
The former Rivers State governor disclosed this in Abuja while discussing cross-party realignments, political strategy, and campaign leadership structures ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Core Reasons Behind Wike’s Position
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Focusing on Base Structures: Wike stated that accepting a demanding national campaign Director-General post would leave his local political strongholds exposed, emphasizing that his primary strategic value to the ruling coalition lies in delivering Rivers State and maintaining administrative stability in the FCT.
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Regional Mobilization Over National Bureaucracy: Rather than coordinating national campaign operations from headquarters, Wike argued that he can contribute more effectively by driving grassroots mobilization across the South-South geopolitical zone and consolidating cross-party alliances.
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Reaffirmation of Loyalty: Wike reiterated that declining a national campaign leadership role does not diminish his commitment to President Tinubu’s re-election effort, framing it instead as a pragmatic division of labor to ensure maximum vote returns.
“If I were offered the Director-General of the campaign council, I would have declined. I cannot leave Rivers State and the FCT unattended just to run a national campaign office. My focus is where the real work of delivering results happens.”
— Nyesom Wike, FCT Minister
