RismadarVoice Reporters
August 22, 2026
Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike has explained why he is not serving as Director-General of President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 re-election campaign, saying he is not a member of the All Progressives Congress and does not want to risk losing his political base.
Wike spoke on Saturday after inspecting the Apo-Karshi and Kubwa-Bwari roads in Abuja, shortly after the Presidency announced the composition of the APC Presidential Campaign Council, with former Zamfara State Governor Abdulaziz Yari appointed Director-General.
Wike cited previous campaign directors-general who, despite leading presidential campaigns, lost their own states during the elections.
He recalled that Rotimi Amaechi was campaign DG for Muhammadu Buhari in 2015 and 2019 but lost Rivers State. He also mentioned Bukola Saraki, Aminu Tambuwal and Simon Lalong, who he said similarly failed to deliver their states while serving in presidential campaign leadership positions.
According to Wike, he does not want to join that list.
“I don’t want to lose my state! I will be in my state. I have two states: FCT and Rivers.”
He said his priority was to deliver both the Federal Capital Territory and Rivers State for Tinubu rather than occupy a campaign title.
“So it is not about being DG. If you are DG and you don’t win your state, what is the essence of the DG?”
Wike also pointed out that he is not an APC member, making his appointment to the party’s formal presidential campaign council unlikely.
“I am not a member of APC. So the issue of their Presidential Campaign Council is out of the question.”
He noted that during the 2023 election, members of the political group that supported Tinubu did not necessarily belong to the APC campaign structure, but worked independently to secure his victory.
The minister said his support for Tinubu’s 2027 re-election is being pursued through a cross-party arrangement known as the “Rainbow Coalition.”
According to Wike, politicians from different parties are working together in several states to support Tinubu while retaining their respective party identities.
He listed Kwara, Bayelsa, Rivers, Osun and Benue among states where the coalition is operating.
Wike argued that political effectiveness should ultimately be measured by electoral results rather than campaign titles.
He also expressed satisfaction with progress on the Apo-Karshi and Kubwa-Bwari road projects, saying they were expected to be completed before the end of the year.
The minister added that his administration’s initial plan to complete 10 projects before the 2027 general election could now be surpassed, with more than 10 projects expected to be ready before the polls.
