ABUJA, Nigeria — Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has said he will resign from the Federal Executive Council if President Bola Ahmed Tinubu loses the 2027 presidential election in either the FCT or Rivers State.
Wike made the declaration on Wednesday in Abuja while addressing members of the Apo Mechanics and Traders community over their planned relocation to the informal sector in Wasa, reports [source].
The former Rivers State governor said his continued stay in the cabinet would depend on his ability to deliver electoral support for Tinubu in the FCT and his home state.
“The presidential election is on Jan. 16, 2027. By Jan. 17, 2027, I will announce my resignation as FCT minister should the president lose in Rivers and the FCT,” Wike said.
Explaining his position, Wike said the FCT was where he currently served while Rivers remained his home state, arguing that failure to deliver electoral victory for Tinubu in either territory would amount to a failure of his political leadership.
“FCT is where I work. Rivers is my state. If I cannot deliver where I work, then I’m not worthy to be here.
“It means that whatever good thing I’ve been doing right here is meaningless. If I lose here, I shouldn’t be in that position. I’m a practical person. If I lose FCT, I have no business being the minister.
“If I go back to my state and the president cannot win, then why am I shouting about president, president, president when I cannot win?
“If I don’t deliver this, remove me here. I will accept it,” he said.
Wike, who has been mobilising support for Tinubu through the cross-party Rainbow Coalition, said the political alliance was being consolidated across the FCT ahead of the 2027 election.
He declared his preferred candidates for the presidential and senatorial contests, saying, “Let us be clear on direction: for the presidency, it is Bola Tinubu! For the Senate, Philip Aduda. He is a man of the people, unlike those who only appear on television.”
The minister urged members of the Peoples Democratic Party and other political parties, as well as residents of the FCT, to unite behind the candidates.
He also tasked leaders of the Apo mechanics and traders with grassroots mobilisation, urging them to mobilise residents, relatives and other people connected to the Apo business community ahead of the election.
Wike also assured the traders that the government would complete their relocation to Wasa by the end of the year.
The Apo trading community, in response, praised the minister for what they described as improvements in infrastructure and pledged support for Tinubu’s re-election bid.
Chairman of the Apo Trades Association, Chief Chimezie Efe, specifically commended the dualisation of the Apo Road, saying the project had improved access to the business area.
“The road is so useful to us. It made our customers come close to us. In fact, since the road was built, our business has been moving well,” Efe said.
He added that members of the association had agreed to support the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the election.
“Honourable minister, sir, I give you a promise that the entire members of the Apo Traders Association have agreed that our votes go to APC,” he said.
Also speaking, Coordinating Chairman of the Apo Mechanics and Traders Unity Forum, Chinedu Nweke, commended Wike for what he described as a departure from previous administrations that failed to address the community’s concerns.
Nweke cited the Apo Road dualisation and the proposed relocation to Wasa as major developments affecting the business community.
“The road dualisation you did has indeed improved economic activities of Apo Mechanic Village, and we are grateful. Whichever way you direct us, we follow you,” he said.
