Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has pledged to resign from the Federal Executive Council if President Bola Ahmed Tinubu loses the FCT and Rivers State in the 2027 presidential election.
Wike made the declaration during an engagement with leaders and members of the Apo Mechanics and Traders Association in Abuja, where he tied his continued stay as FCT Minister to his ability to deliver the two territories politically for the President.
The minister said he would not wait beyond the day after the presidential election, scheduled by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for January 16, 2027, to act if Tinubu fails to win in both the FCT and Rivers.
“If I cannot deliver where I work, then I’m not worthy to be here,” Wike said, stressing that his political responsibility in the FCT must be matched by electoral results.
He added: “If I lose FCT, I’m not supposed to be FCT Minister. By January 17, 2027, I will announce my resignation as FCT Minister should the President lose in Rivers State and the FCT.”
Wike also disclosed that a multi-party political coalition was being assembled in the FCT as part of efforts to secure victory for candidates being backed by his political camp across the various elective positions.
He specifically endorsed Tinubu for the presidency and identified former FCT Minister and senator, Philip Aduda, as the preferred candidate for the Senate, while also backing two former Area Council chairmen contesting for seats in the House of Representatives.
“Let us be clear on direction: for the Presidency, it is Bola Ahmed Tinubu! For the Senate, Philip Aduda is a man of the people, unlike those who only appear on television. The two House of Representatives candidates we are supporting are also here. They are former Area Council chairmen,” Wike said.
He further stated that the political arrangement transcended party lines, with the coalition expected to work across different parties to achieve its electoral objectives in the FCT.
“In the FCT, we are running a unified coalition across parties to deliver results,” he said.
Reiterating his commitment to delivering the FCT for Tinubu, Wike said his performance at the polls would determine whether he deserved to remain in charge of the nation’s capital.
“If I cannot deliver FCT as Minister, then I am not qualified to hold this office. We have a firm agreement, and today is the final affirmation,” he said.
The declaration comes against the backdrop of the FCT Administration’s ongoing efforts to address the relocation and land-allocation issues affecting traders and mechanics operating around the Apo Mechanic Village corridor.
INEC has fixed January 16, 2027, for the presidential and National Assembly elections, while the governorship and State House of Assembly elections are scheduled for February 6, 2027.
