Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has said he will not help politicians win elections in their respective states.

He stressed that his priority for the 2027 general elections is to mobilise support for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election.

Wike made the clarification in a statement issued on Tuesday by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka.

The minister said his support for Tinubu’s second-term bid remained firm but insisted that he never promised that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) would not field candidates for governorship, National Assembly and State House of Assembly elections.

He said politicians facing challenges in their states should deal with them locally rather than use the President’s re-election campaign to create unnecessary political sentiments.

“I won’t be the one to help people to win elections in their states. Politics is local, and those having problems in their states should resolve them instead of using the re-election of the President to whip up sentiments,” Wike said.

The minister also clarified that the rainbow coalition had no connection with the All Progressives Congress (APC).

According to him, the coalition is made up of people from different political parties who support Tinubu because they believe in his performance and want him re-elected in 2027.

“Rainbow coalition has nothing to do with the APC. Rather, it is our own way of mobilising support across political parties for Mr President, who has done well to deserve a second term,” Wike said.

Wike recalled that he and other members of the G5 supported Tinubu in the 2023 presidential election without first meeting with the APC.

He said his position for 2027 remained the same: to support the President and not to determine which political party should win state-level elections.

Wike also argued that political support should be built from the grassroots.

According to him, elections are no longer about relying on political calculations or coming from a distant position to win a governorship election.

He cited the 2023 elections in Imo, Abia, Enugu and Ebonyi states as examples of voters supporting different parties in presidential and legislative elections.

The minister questioned how the APC won two senatorial seats in Imo in 2023 even though the party received less than 15 per cent of the presidential votes in the state.

He also pointed to APC victories in National Assembly elections in Ebonyi, Abia and Enugu, despite the party receiving less than 10 per cent of the presidential votes in some of those states.

“The results showed that voters were capable of separating presidential and state-level elections,” he said.

He urged political stakeholders to put the presidential election first and deal with other contests after Tinubu’s re-election.

“After the President must have been re-elected, we can all go and face elections in our states,” he said.

Wike maintained that his support for Tinubu did not mean that other political parties would be prevented from contesting elections at the state and National Assembly levels.

“What I said and stand for is that I will mobilise support for the re-election of the President. I never promised anyone that PDP will not field candidates to contest governorship, National Assembly and State House of Assembly elections,” he said.

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has urged Muslims and Islamic organisations across Nigeria to heighten vigilance and immediately report suspicious persons, movements and objects to security agencies following a nationwide terror alert.

MURIC’s warning came after the Nigeria Police Force raised concerns over intelligence indicating increased mobilisation of terrorist elements for possible coordinated attacks on places of worship, schools, NYSC orientation camps and other vulnerable locations.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, MURIC Executive Director, Professor Isiaq Akintola, urged Islamic organisations and individuals to be wary of unfamiliar faces at their gatherings and take precautionary measures to prevent possible attacks.

Akintola specifically advised mosques to strengthen security arrangements and exercise caution over individuals carrying bags or luggage into their premises.

He said, “Islamic organizations and individuals must be wary of strange faces at their gatherings. People carrying bags and baggage, especially back-packs, must not be allowed into mosque premises.

“Mosques must up their vigilance. Entertain no unknown faces even if their turbans carry the stamps of Saudi Arabia and Iran altogether. No sleep-over should be allowed in the mosques.

“Most importantly, dispose of any bag or luggage found inside or around the mosque immediately. They must also report suspicious persons to the police even if such person or persons pray with them in the same mosque.”

The Nigeria Police Force had, in a wireless message dated September 13, 2026, directed commands nationwide to intensify security measures following intelligence on possible coordinated terrorist attacks.

Issued by the Force Department of Operations in Abuja and marked “Security General” and “Treat as Very Important,” the message was circulated to police formations, including Commissioners of Police, Assistant Inspectors-General overseeing various zones, counter-terrorism units and other specialised formations.

According to the directive, the North-East, North-West, North-Central and parts of the South-West were areas of particular concern.

The police also disclosed intelligence indicating the movement of armed elements from Katsina through Kaduna towards Plateau State, while suspected Islamic State West Africa Province operatives and local collaborators were reportedly conducting surveillance of potential targets.

The Force expressed particular concern over possible attacks on learning institutions, warning that terrorists could exploit the resumption of the 2026/2027 academic session to target concentrations of students and staff.

It further noted that such attacks could be aimed at causing mass casualties, spreading fear and destabilising communities ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The police assessed the situation as a possible progression from “intent to preparatory activity” and ordered immediate proactive measures.

Consequently, commanders were directed to intensify intelligence-led surveillance, patrols, stop-and-search operations, access control and rapid-response arrangements around vulnerable locations.

The Force also ordered tighter security at borders, entry and exit routes and other critical approaches to prevent the infiltration and movement of armed elements.

“All personnel should maintain heightened vigilance and report suspicious persons, vehicles, movements or objects through established channels,” the message stated.

Police commands were further instructed to collaborate with other security and intelligence agencies, religious leaders, school authorities and the NYSC management to strengthen information sharing and early-warning mechanisms.