Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has called on Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members across Nigeria to support President Bola Tinubu ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Wike made the call on Tuesday in Rivers State at an event where the Rainbow Coalition unveiled its preferred candidates for the next elections.
According to him, the decision to back Tinubu was reached with the support of the PDP’s National Working Committee (NWC), stressing that members of the party in every state were expected to support the president’s re-election bid.
“What this means is that as the National Leader of the People’s Democratic Party and with the support of the National Working Committee, we have agreed that all the states will support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” Wike said.
He listed Imo, Kwara, Gombe, Zamfara and Ogun among the states where PDP members were expected to work towards Tinubu’s re-election.
“So, every PDP member in Imo State, you will support Bola Ahmed Tinubu; every PDP member in Kwara, Gombe, Zamfara, Ogun, and all other states must support Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
The minister also weighed in on the PDP leadership crisis, arguing that only individuals recognised by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), alongside himself, had the authority to speak for the party.
He named Mao Ohuabunwa as chairman of the party’s Board of Trustees and Abdulrahman Mohammed as national chairman.
“There is nothing like a factional leader; INEC has recognised the Peoples Democratic Party led by the Mao Ohuabunwa as chairman of the BOT and Hon. Abdulrahman Mohammed as the National Chairman, and nobody can speak on behalf of the party except these two people and me, the National Leader,” he added.
At the event, the Rainbow Coalition presented its preferred candidates for the 2027 elections in Rivers State, including Kingsley Chinda as its governorship candidate.
Wike described the coalition as a platform for bringing politicians from different parties together to support Tinubu. He expressed appreciation to those who had agreed to work under the arrangement, including the APC governorship candidate, Kingsley Chinda.
“The candidate of the Rainbow Coalition, let me use as a point of contact, the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, to appreciate and thank all of you who have agreed to work together, who have agreed under the Rainbow Coalition to support His Excellency, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as the president of this country,” Wike said.
He also expressed confidence in Rivers State’s political unity, saying the state would not return to the violence and unrest that had characterised previous political disputes.
“For those who don’t know, they should know today that Rivers State is entirely for Tinubu. Speakers have said here that Rivers State is united, that in this dispensation, we will not have again Rivers of blood, we will not have again killings and crises amongst us in Rivers State; rather, what we will have is a united Rivers State.”
Wike added that the coalition had attracted attention beyond Rivers State, with its main objective being to rally support for Tinubu across political parties.
“Now, let me say this. I am sure all over the country, all the states and the FCT are watching what is happening in Rivers. I have said, and I want to reiterate, that Rainbow coalition means no harm but to bring people together across political parties to support Tinubu,” he added.
