2027: Wike Urges FCT Residents to Reject Repeat of 2023 Voting Decision, Back Tinubu

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has urged residents of Abuja to support President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027, warning them against repeating what he described as a political mistake in the 2023 general election.

Wike made the appeal on Thursday during an interactive meeting organised by the Rainbow Coalition, comprising members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in Bwari Area Council, Abuja.

At the gathering, the minister also endorsed former Senator Philip Aduda for the FCT senatorial seat and John Gbadaya for the Abuja South Federal Constituency seat under the coalition’s political arrangement.

Addressing the residents, Wike asked whether they intended to repeat the voting decision they made during the 2023 presidential election, urging them to consider the performance of political leaders before deciding whom to support in 2027.

“The mistake we made in 2023, would we make that mistake again? If it was an error, would we make that error again?” he asked, drawing a negative response from members of the audience.

The minister cautioned residents against politicians he described as “political gamblers”, insisting that voters should prioritise leaders who understand their needs and demonstrate a commitment to addressing challenges in their communities.

He argued that political party affiliation should not prevent politicians from working together for the benefit of the people, describing the Rainbow Coalition as an arrangement designed to promote cooperation across party lines.

“It doesn’t matter the party. After all, party is a vehicle that conveys you to where you are going. When you get there, you come down from the vehicle and you now work for the interest of the people,” Wike said.

The former Rivers State governor also questioned the performance of the senator representing the FCT, Ireti Kingibe, asking residents whether they had felt her impact or experienced her presence in their communities.

“Today, the people of FCT, do you feel the impact? Do you feel the presence of the senator representing FCT today?” he asked.

Wike subsequently presented Aduda to the gathering, describing the former senator as a politician who understood the concerns and challenges confronting residents.

“So, I am here to present to you your own son. The man who understands when you are sleeping. The man who knows when you are crying. The man who knows when Gombe people are in need. Senator Philip Aduda,” he stated.

The FCT minister attributed the infrastructure projects being executed across the territory to Tinubu’s support, arguing that the President’s approval was essential to the implementation of major projects.

“All these things are being done because somebody is responsible. If the person does not agree with the minister doing anything, nothing will happen,” he said.

Wike also announced that the Gombe-Kubwa Road project was expected to be completed in December, expressing optimism that residents would be able to use the road during the Christmas period.

He said the ongoing projects demonstrated the importance of cooperation between the FCT Administration and the Federal Government.

The meeting also featured efforts to strengthen political cooperation between APC and PDP members under the Rainbow Coalition ahead of the 2027 elections.

The FCT APC chairman, Tanko Yamawo, commended Wike for bringing politicians from opposing parties together, recalling that political divisions had previously made cooperation between members of the two parties difficult.

Similarly, the FCT PDP chairman, Ismaila Dogara, declared that the coalition was committed to working together and urged Wike to communicate the expectations of residents to the President.

Traditional rulers at the meeting acknowledged ongoing infrastructure projects but appealed to the minister to address additional development needs, particularly road construction and rehabilitation in their communities.

The gathering forms part of ongoing political mobilisation ahead of the 2027 general election, with Wike and members of the Rainbow Coalition seeking support for Tinubu and other candidates endorsed under the alliance.