Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike has dismissed concerns over his exclusion from the newly inaugurated presidential campaign council of the All Progressives Congress (APC), saying he values electoral delivery above political titles.
Wike spoke on Saturday after inspecting the ongoing infrastructure projects in the FCT. He also reflected on his three years in office and his political strategy ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“I am not a member of the APC,” Wike said. “And I am not interested in becoming general director of the party’s presidential campaign council. Holding that position does not automatically translate into electoral success.”
The Minister argued that CEOs of previous campaigns failed to deliver on their own estates despite their prominent roles.
He cited former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi, former Senate President Bukola Saraki, former Sokoto State Governor Aminu Tambuwal and former Plateau State Governor Simon Lalong.
“In 2015, Amaechi was governor of Rivers State. He was Muhammadu Buhari’s CEO. Before you knew it, I pulled the rug from under his feet. He lost. He didn’t get 25 per cent,” Wike said.
“In 2019, he was Minister of Transport. He became Director General. He also lost the State.”
He added: “In 2023, Aminu Tambuwal became CEO of Atiku. He lost his status. In the same 2023, Lalong became CEO of the President. He lost his status.”
Wike said his focus would remain on where he can make the biggest impact: Rivers State and the FCT.
“I don’t want to lose my state. I will be in my state. I have two states: FCT and Rivers State. The important thing is, can you deliver on those two states?” asked.
“All politics is local. If you can’t elect the president in your state, how would you say you want to be elected? If you lose your own state, even if you are CEO, you should be ashamed.”
The Minister also defended his performance as FCT Minister, saying his three years in office had brought about visible changes despite the challenges.
“I am happy for these three years in office. Our team is committed to getting the job done. Challenges have come. We have been able to overcome those challenges,” he said.
Wike thanked President Bola Tinubu for the opportunity to serve and said the FCT administration would soon release a scorecard of the projects.
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“We are going to publish the projects that we inherited from the Olusegun Obasanjo government, from 1999 to 2007. We are also going to publish that of Yar’Adua and Jonathan, and we are also going to publish that of Muhammadu Buhari,” he said.
“Then when we publish the ones we inherited and completed, we will also publish the projects awarded by this current administration. So Nigerians will see for themselves.”
Wike’s comments come as political activities intensify ahead of the 2027 general elections, and political parties and actors begin to position themselves for the presidential contest.
For the FCT Minister, however, political influence will ultimately be measured by the ability to provide electoral support to the grassroots, not by occupying prominent positions in campaign organisations.
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