Wike Welcomes Inclusion in Tinubu’s Re-Election Campaign Despite Not Being APC Member

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has welcomed his inclusion in President Bola Tinubu’s re-election campaign team, despite remaining outside the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Wike said Tinubu’s decision to accommodate supporters from other political parties showed that the president’s re-election campaign was intended to bring together a broader group of political allies, rather than being limited to APC members.

The minister spoke on Tuesday during his monthly media parley in Abuja, where he explained that the president recognised the contributions non-APC supporters could make to his re-election bid.

Wike said Tinubu had chosen to work with individuals outside the ruling party because they had something to offer towards securing another term in office.

“So my thinking is that the president said, look, there are those who are not members of our political parties, but have something to offer for his re-election, and it will be proper to accommodate them so that we are able to offer whatever they may call it,” he said.

Wike Describes Campaign as Cross-Party Cooperation

The FCT minister said the arrangement reflected cooperation between APC members and supporters of Tinubu from different political backgrounds.

He argued that the political alliance should not necessarily be described as a coalition, but as a joint effort by people working towards the same objective.

“Some don’t want to see the word coalition, but if you see that word PBAT slash APC, were the members of the party, and supporters of Mr President working together to achieve one purpose,” Wike said.

He cited Anambra State Governor Chukwuma Soludo and Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke as examples of non-APC governors involved in coordinating support for Tinubu’s re-election.

Soludo is the coordinator for the president’s support efforts in Anambra State, while Adeleke, who is not an APC member, is also involved in coordinating support, Wike said.

The minister added that he was coordinating support for Tinubu in Rivers State and the FCT despite his continued association with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

“You can see Professor Soludo, Governor of Anambra State, who is the coordinator for Anambra State. You can see Governor Adeleke, who is not a member of APC, but the coordinator for Mr President, and then my humble self, who is not a member of APC, but a strong coordinator for the president in Rivers and the FCT,” he said.

Wike Says Tinubu’s Re-Election Goes Beyond APC

Wike maintained that Tinubu’s re-election campaign should be viewed as a broader political project involving supporters across party lines.

He said the involvement of non-APC politicians demonstrated that the president had allies who wanted him to remain in office, regardless of their formal party affiliations.

“It tells you that it’s not necessarily just APC. Like we are saying that the re-election of Mr President should not just be about the APC,” Wike said.

He added that he was pleased to be part of the campaign effort, describing the arrangement as an opportunity for supporters to contribute to what they believe is the president’s work for Nigeria.

“So that is giving holistic view that there are those who are ready for Mr President to be elected to continue the good work we think he is doing for Nigeria. Frankly speaking, we are happy to be part of it,” he said.

Wike, a former governor of Rivers State, has continued to support Tinubu despite his association with the PDP, highlighting the cross-party political relationships shaping the president’s re-election campaign.