FCT Minister Nyesom Wike replies Governor Hope Uzodimma and other APC Governors, saying his support is only for President Tinubu and insists he never promised anyone that the PDP will not field candidates in the governorship, National Assembly and State House of Assembly elections.
In a statement on Tuesday by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka, Wike said he never promised anyone that the PDP would not field candidates in the governorship, National Assembly and State House of Assembly elections.
"I won't be the one to help people win elections in their states," the Minister said. "Politics is local. Those having problems in their states should resolve them instead of using the President’s reelection to whip up sentiment."
Wike noted that he and other members of the G5 did not meet with the APC before supporting the President in 2023. "For 2027, my support is for the President only," he added.
"Politics is no longer about coming from fourth place to become governor. It is about genuinely mobilising support and winning elections from the polling units," he said.
He asked: "In Imo State under Governor Hope Uzodimma, how did the APC win two senate seats in 2023 in an election held the same day as the presidential election, when the APC had less than 15 percent in the presidential election? Was it a rainbow coalition? Were the voters confused?
"Was it a rainbow coalition that also made the APC win National Assembly elections in Ebonyi, Abia and Enugu States where the President did not get up to 10 percent of the votes?
"If in 2023 voters in Imo, Abia, Enugu and Ebonyi voted APC in the senatorial election and voted another party in the presidential election, they won’t be confused in 2027 provided we all genuinely support the President this time."
The Minister urged stakeholders to prioritise the presidential election. "After the President has been reelected, we can all go and face elections in our states," he said.
"What I said, and what I stand by, is that I will mobilise support for the reelection of the President. I never promised anyone that the PDP will not field candidates for governorship, National Assembly and State House of Assembly elections.
"Most importantly, the rainbow coalition has nothing to do with the APC. Rather, it is our way of mobilising support across political parties for Mr President, who has done well and deserves a second term," he said.