Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, has said the emerging rainbow coalition of political parties and supporters backing President Bola Tinubu’s re-election demonstrates his leadership capacity.
Wike said the cooperation between members of the All Progressives Congress, APC, and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, showed that he could mobilise political supporters to work towards a common goal despite their different party affiliations.
The minister spoke on Tuesday during his monthly media parley in Abuja.
Reacting to concerns about the arrangement involving APC and PDP supporters ahead of the 2027 general elections, Wike said he did not see any problem with the political understanding.
“What concerns? I don’t know what issues there are as far as I’m concerned,” he said.
Wike recalled that he had addressed APC and PDP stakeholders in the FCT, where he explained that they would support Tinubu for president while backing APC candidates for the National Assembly.
“You heard me yesterday when I was addressing the stakeholders of APC and PDP in the FCT. We say, look, yes, we are going to vote for Mr President, and the National Assembly candidates are for APC,” he said.
He added that a PDP candidate had also expressed willingness to support the arrangement, questioning why it should generate controversy.
“You are there then when the PDP candidate said, look, we are going to support you, right? Why would anybody say there is a problem there?” the minister asked.
Wike explained that political arrangements could differ from one state to another, depending on local circumstances and the interests of the people involved.
He cited Anambra State governor, Chukwuma Soludo’s support for Tinubu as an example, arguing that such support did not mean the governor’s party would abandon its candidates for other elective positions.
“But the major thing is, Mr President, that I said there are peculiarities in some states, right? There are particularities. I mean, if, for example, Prof Soludo is now supporting Mr President, are you also saying that his party will not have candidates in House of Representatives? I don’t understand it. So there’s no confusion,” he said.
The FCT minister maintained that the arrangement reflected the ability of a leader to influence supporters and persuade them to embrace a common political objective.
“It tells you how, for example, if it’s right, and that your people believe in you, and that if you speak to your people, there is likelihood that they will listen to what you have said. That’s leadership capacity,” Wike added.
He insisted that there was no crisis surrounding the arrangement, dismissing suggestions that the cooperation between the two parties could create political complications.
“There wouldn’t be any issue. And for me, when people say problem, where’s the problem?
“As for what you see now, you know that there’s no problem. There’s no problem for us,” he said.
DAILY POST reports that Wike, a former Rivers State governor and a prominent PDP figure, has continued to support Tinubu despite not being a member of the ruling APC.
2027: Rainbow coalition shows I have capacity as leader – Wike