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Winning Rivers, FCT More Important – Wike Reacts to APC Campaign Council Snub
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has reacted to his exclusion from the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council for the 2027 general elections.
The former Rivers State governor said his priority is to deliver the state and the FCT for President Bola Tinubu rather than seek a position in the campaign structure.
Wike spoke while inspecting ongoing road projects in the Apo/Karish and Kubwa-Bwari areas of Abuja.
During the inspection, Wike explained why he had deliberately avoided serving as Director-General of presidential campaign organisations in previous elections.
According to the minister, holding the position of campaign Director-General does not necessarily translate into electoral success, particularly if the person is unable to deliver his or her home state to the presidential candidate.
Wike said his experience of Nigerian politics had shown that several politicians who occupied top campaign positions eventually lost the states where they exercised political influence.
He cited the 2015 presidential election, when former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi served as Director-General of the campaign that produced Muhammadu Buhari as President but was unable to deliver Rivers State to the APC candidate.
The minister also recalled that Amaechi, who later became Minister of Transportation, again served as campaign Director-General in 2019 but failed to deliver Rivers State.
Wike further referred to former Senate President Bukola Saraki, who headed the presidential campaign of Atiku Abubakar in 2019 but lost Kwara State and his senatorial seat during the election.
He also cited former Sokoto State Governor Aminu Tambuwal, who served as Director-General of Atiku’s campaign in 2023 but lost Sokoto State, as well as former Plateau State Governor Simon Lalong, who served as Director-General of the APC presidential campaign but could not deliver Plateau State.
The FCT minister said the examples demonstrated the importance of concentrating on one’s political base instead of being carried away by campaign titles.
“What’s important is that you are able to deliver those two states. So it’s not about being DG. If you’re DG and you don’t win your state, what’s the essence of the DG?” Wike said.
“I don’t want to lose my state,” he added.
Wike maintained that politics was essentially local and that anyone aspiring to occupy a major political position must first prove his ability to win elections in his immediate political environment.
“If you cannot deliver the President in your state, how will you say you want an election? If you lose your own state, even if you’re DG, you’ll be ashamed,” he said.
The former Rivers State governor also made it clear that his support for Tinubu’s re-election in 2027 did not depend on his membership of the APC Presidential Campaign Council.
Wike is not a member of the APC but was one of the prominent opposition figures who supported Tinubu’s emergence in the 2023 presidential election despite belonging to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
He said he and his political allies did not need to become members of the APC before working for Tinubu in 2023 and would adopt a similar approach in the 2027 election.
According to him, the political arrangement would continue through the emerging “Rainbow Coalition”, which he said would bring together politicians and political groups from different parties in support of Tinubu.
Wike cited the example of Senator Saliu Mustapha, representing Kwara Central, who, according to him, could support Tinubu for the presidency while seeking re-election to the Senate under the PDP.
The minister argued that membership of the APC Presidential Campaign Council should therefore not be regarded as the only measure of support for Tinubu’s 2027 presidential bid.
He said he would continue to concentrate on Rivers State and the FCT, where he claimed to have significant political influence and responsibility.
“There’s nothing like the APC Campaign Director in Rivers State election. I’m the one that’s in charge. I’m also the one that’s in charge of FCT,” Wike said.
He stressed that the ultimate objective was to secure victory for Tinubu rather than pursue a title within the campaign council.
His comments came shortly after Tinubu constituted the APC Presidential Campaign Council for the 2027 general elections, appointing former Zamfara State Governor, Senator Abdulaziz Yari, as Director-General.
The council was announced in a statement issued on Saturday by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy.
Under the structure, Tinubu will serve as Chairman of the campaign council, while Vice President Kashim Shettima and APC National Chairman, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, will serve as Vice Chairmen.
Yari, a former governor of Zamfara State and a prominent APC figure, will coordinate the campaign as Director-General, while Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma will serve as Secretary.
The APC National Secretary, Senator Ajibola Bashiru, was appointed Deputy Secretary, while Hadiza Bala-Usman will serve as Assistant Secretary.
The campaign council also includes several senior political figures as advisers to Tinubu, including former APC National Chairman Bisi Akande, former Ogun State Governor Segun Osoba, former Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha, former APC National Chairman Abdullahi Adamu and Senator Florence Ita Giwa.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas and Yobe State Governor Mai Mala Buni were appointed Deputy Directors-General for the southern and northern parts of the country.
Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has declared that the All Progressives Congress, APC, or any of the political parties willing to use any of the public facilities in the state is free to do so.
Makinde specifically explained that the APC is free to use the ancient Mapo Hall for its proposed campaign.
Makinde made these declarations in a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media, Dr Sulaimon Olanrewaju.
The statement was made available to DAILY POST Tuesday night.
Makinde in the statement explained that no political party should be denied access to use the facilities as long as they fulfil the conditions.
Makinde made these declarations in response to concerns surrounding the proposed use of Mapo Hall by the APC presidential campaign.
He added that public facilities belong to the people of the state.
He said that its usage must be done in transparent and equitable way.
Makinde in the statement explained that, "Any political party or organisation that fulfils the stipulated conditions should not face discrimination or unjust restrictions in accessing such facilities".
2027: APC, other political parties free to use public facilities- Makinde
The Nigeria Police Force has confirmed the arrest of a 22-year-old man, Umar Ibrahim Gandi Maradun, over a viral video allegedly showing him calling for the use of AK-47 rifles to kill Christians in Enugu and Plateau states.
Politics Nigeria reports that the suspect, a native of Maradun Local Government Area of Zamfara State, was arrested for investigation after the video circulated on social media and sparked concerns over religiously motivated violence.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, the Force Public Relations Officer, Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) Ani Iniedu, said the Zamfara State Police Command had activated its intelligence resources to identify those involved in the incident.
The police also confirmed that the command had engaged the leadership of Jama’atu Izalatil Bidi’a Wa’ikamatus Sunnah (JIBWIS) at the national and state levels following the emergence of the video.
According to the police, the organisation disassociated itself from the alleged conduct and handed the suspect over to the authorities for investigation.
The video reportedly showed the suspect wearing JIBWIS uniform and appearing alongside pupils from two Islamic schools in Maradun: Nurul Islam Islamiya and Akidatul Sahiha Islamiya.
Preliminary findings by the Zamfara State Police Command indicated that the video was recorded on Friday, October 23, 2026, while the suspect was reportedly on his way to Aliyu Ibn Abi Thalib Mosque, where he and others allegedly provided security during Friday prayers and preaching.
The suspect was born on September 15, 2004. He reportedly attended Mualledi Model Primary School and Government Day Secondary School, both in Maradun.
He also reportedly joined JIBWIS in 2025 and recently gained admission to study Mass Communication at Zamfara State University, Talata Mafara.
The police said a comprehensive investigation had commenced and that the suspect would be charged before a competent court if sufficient evidence established an offence under applicable law.
Earlier, the Zamfara State Commissioner of Police, Bello, said the investigation would consider allegations of incitement to violence, disturbance of public peace and criminal intimidation under Sections 77, 78 and 380(b) of the Penal Code Law applicable in the state, subject to the evidence gathered and applicable law.
The police also condemned statements capable of promoting religious hatred, threatening community safety or undermining peaceful coexistence.
“The Zamfara State Police Command remains resolute in its duty to uphold the law, protect lives and property, defend the rights of all citizens without discrimination, and work with relevant stakeholders to sustain peace and security throughout Zamfara State,” the commissioner said.
The development comes as JIBWIS has publicly distanced itself from the video and condemned calls for violence against non-Muslims.
The group’s National Publicity Secretary, Sheikh Ahmad Muhammad Ashiru, stated this in a statement issued at its headquarters in Jos on Tuesday.
Ashiru said the organisation had yet to establish the authenticity of the video but maintained that its position against violence was clear.
“We are yet to confirm whether the video is authentic, but our position against violence remains clear,” he said.
He added that JIBWIS, under the leadership of Ash-Sheikh Muhammad Sani Yahaya Jingir, would not support calls to attack or kill anyone because of their religious affiliation.
Ashiru said banditry, kidnapping, armed robbery and Boko Haram attacks were already affecting communities across the country, warning that statements promoting violence could heighten tensions and threaten peaceful coexistence.
“We would not support any call capable of disturbing the peace of Nigeria, as such comments are capable of inciting violence and creating unnecessary tension among Nigerians,” he said.
The JIBWIS spokesperson stressed that anyone making such statements in the organisation’s name did not represent its position.
He urged security agencies to investigate the video, establish its authenticity and identify those responsible, adding that anyone found culpable should face the law after a proper investigation.
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Police Force has urged members of the public to remain calm, avoid circulating unverified information and refrain from sharing the video in ways that could escalate religious tensions.
The Force reiterated its commitment to protecting Nigerians irrespective of religious affiliation and taking lawful action against conduct capable of inciting hatred or threatening public peace.
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