Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has pledged to resign from office if President Bola Tinubu loses the FCT and Rivers State in the 2027 presidential election.
Wike made the declaration while addressing members of the Apo Traders Association in Abuja, where he said the level of support for Tinubu in the FCT should reflect the administration’s performance under his leadership as minister.
The former Rivers State governor said support for Tinubu extends beyond the All Progressives Congress (APC), noting that some members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are also backing the President.
“I’ll tell you one thing about this place. We are doing rainbow coalition. Even people in the PDP, we are supporting Tinubu, right?” Wike said.
Wike explained that he regarded the FCT as his place of work while Rivers State remained his home state, arguing that he should be held responsible if the President fails to secure support in either territory.
“You see, FCT is where I work. Rivers State is my state, right? And if I cannot deliver where I work, then I am not worthy to be here,” he said.
According to the minister, losing either the FCT or Rivers State would raise questions about his performance and whether he deserved to remain in office.
“It means that whatever I am doing here, people don’t think that I’m doing the right thing. And even if I was here, I shouldn’t be in that position,” Wike added.
He subsequently pledged to accept responsibility for the outcome of the presidential election, saying he would resign immediately if Tinubu loses both the FCT and Rivers State.
“I’m a practical person. The presidential election is on January 16, 2027. By January 17, 2027, I will announce my resignation as FCT Minister should the President lose in Rivers State and the FCT,” Wike said.
Wike has remained a prominent supporter of Tinubu despite retaining his membership of the PDP. His support for the President has been described by him as part of a broader political coalition cutting across party lines.
The 2027 presidential election is scheduled to hold on January 16, 2027, according to the timetable released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
