I don’t need a role to deliver victory for Tinubu – Wike

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The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has said he does not need a role in the All Progressives Congress campaign council before working for and ensuring that President Bola Tinubu wins the 2027 election.

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Wike, who spoke on Saturday after inspecting some ongoing projects in the FCT, according to the News Agency of Nigeria, said being a member of the campaign council did not guarantee electoral victory.

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His comment came a few hours after Tinubu unveiled the presidential campaign council, naming former Zamfara State governor, Abdulaziz Yari, as the Director-General and Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, as secretary.

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The FCT minister said political relevance in presidential elections was based on a politician’s ability to win their states, local governments and wards.

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He dismissed the notion that not being a member of the APC campaign council would prevent key political actors from helping secure electoral victories for the President.

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The minister said the Rainbow Coalition, which he established in Rivers State for Tinubu’s second-term bid, was already implementing its plans to secure the President’s re-election.

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Wike said, “I am not a member of the APC, so I cannot be in the presidential campaign council. We had our own strategies on how the presidency would emerge.

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“In the Rainbow Coalition, we don’t need to be members of the APC Presidential Campaign Council. We are doing our own work.

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“What is important is: are you able to deliver those two states? Who will be in charge of the Rivers State campaign? Me. Who will be in charge of FCT? Me.”

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The minister said many politicians who had previously served as campaign DGs failed to win their home states for their parties.

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“Rotimi Amaechi served as DG for Muhammadu Buhari’s campaigns in 2015 and 2019 but failed to secure Rivers. Bukola Saraki led Atiku Abubakar’s campaign council in 2019 as DG but lost both Kwara and his senatorial seat. Aminu Tambuwal served as DG for Atiku Abubakar in 2023 and lost Sokoto State. Simon Lalong headed the APC presidential campaign council as DG in 2023 but failed to deliver Plateau.

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“If you are DG and you don’t win your state, what is the essence of the DG? If you lose your own state, even if you are DG, you will be ashamed. When you say you won, people will ask: ‘Why didn’t you win in your own state?’”

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