Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has said he would have turned down the position of director-general of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council had President Bola Tinubu offered it to him.
Wike made the remarks on Saturday while inspecting ongoing projects in the nation’s capital, including the 13-kilometre Apo-Karshi Road and the 14-kilometre Bwari-Kubwa Road.
The minister said he was not interested in heading the campaign council, arguing that those who occupied the position in previous presidential elections had failed to deliver their respective states for the party’s presidential candidate.
Wike said his focus was instead on ensuring that Rivers State and the FCT deliver their votes for President Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election.
He said there was little fulfilment in serving on a campaign council when one could not deliver one’s own state “on the day of reckoning.”
The minister, however, pledged that the “rainbow coalition” was fully mobilised and would work within its capacity to secure Tinubu’s re-election.
His comments came shortly after President Tinubu constituted the APC Presidential Campaign Council ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
Tinubu appointed former Zamfara State Governor, Senator Abdulaziz Yari, as director-general of the council, while Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, was named secretary.
The composition of the council was contained in a statement signed by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima will serve as chairman and vice chairman of the council, respectively.
The President will also work with a team of advisers comprising former APC National Chairman Bisi Akande, former Ogun State Governor Segun Osoba, Senator Rochas Okorocha, former APC National Chairman Senator Abdullahi Adamu, and Senator Florence Ita-Giwa.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, and Yobe State Governor Mai Mala Buni were appointed deputy director-generals for the campaign in the South and North. They will work with Senator Opeyemi Bamidele and Senator Jibril Barau in the two zones.
Senator Adams Oshiomhole will serve as deputy director-general in charge of mobilisation, while the President’s Chief of Staff will serve as deputy director-general for administration.
James Faleke, a federal lawmaker who played a key role in the 2022/2023 presidential campaign, returns as deputy director-general for election planning, coordination and monitoring.
Faleke will work with zonal directors, including Senator Olushola Adeyeye in the South-West, Ngozi Olejeme in the South-South, Senator Uche Ekwunife in the South-East, Muntaqha Rabe in the North-West, Ahmed Muhammed Ketso in the North-Central, and Senator Sani Danladi in the North-East.
