Rivers Can Vote Tinubu, Reject Other APC Candidates – Wike

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has stated Rivers State voters can assist President Bola Tinubu’s re-election in 2027 whereas voting in opposition to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in legislative elections.

Wike stated the Rainbow Coalition, which contains his political supporters and a few APC members, was fashioned to safe Tinubu’s victory within the presidential election and wouldn’t cease its members from backing candidates of different events in state and National Assembly elections.

He spoke on Thursday throughout a media chat with journalists in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

According to him, members of the coalition had agreed to work in direction of a typical presidential goal whereas retaining their political pursuits in different elections.

“How does it conflict? Because we are not talking to your supporters. You have told your supporters. I have told my supporters. What’s the conflict?” he requested.

Wike stated Tinubu’s re-election was his quick political precedence, including that assist for the president didn’t essentially prolong to APC candidates in different elections.

“As it is today, the priority should be that Mr President wins the election. That’s my priority. I am not there to tell you it will affect the National Assembly election. That’s the local election,” Wike stated.

“You should see. President, APC. House of Reps, APC. Governor, APC. Assembly, PDP..

“We did not start today. More than two years ago, we started this journey. You have just seen us now coming out openly. But we started this journey. It’s a process,” he stated.

Wike additionally rejected recommendations that one particular person managed the coalition, saying its selections concerned consultations and consideration of political pursuits at completely different ranges.

On the authorized dispute involving former Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha and his successor, Hope Uzodimma, Wike denied allegations that he was behind the court docket ruling in Okorocha’s favour in a senatorial dispute.

“I would not want to go into the stress of anybody calling my name. It would be mischievous. I didn’t go to court. I’m not an APC. I don’t know what the issues were,” he stated.

He additionally defended his friendship with Okorocha, arguing that political disagreements between his mates and different politicians wouldn’t decide his private relationships.

“Rochas is my friend. You don’t choose my friends. I’m sorry, will you kill me because my friend is quarrelling with you or has an issue with you in your state?” he requested.

The FCT minister additionally denied claims that he had unilaterally chosen candidates for the Rainbow Coalition in Rivers State with out the involvement of Governor Siminalayi Fubara.

He cited Fubara’s unveiling of the candidates as proof that the governor was a part of the association.

“Who unveiled the candidates? He did. It’s not everything you see like this that you talk about. There are things that go underground,” Wike stated.

He additionally dismissed issues about Fubara’s political prospects after leaving workplace.

“Fubara is a young man. So he cannot say his political future is gone. He can’t say that. Don’t call him minister today. Doesn’t mean he will not be minister tomorrow,” he stated.

On the PDP’s prospects within the 2027 presidential election, Wike expressed doubt that the occasion might defeat Tinubu.

He stated he had brazenly declared his assist for Tinubu even earlier than the disagreements throughout the PDP had been resolved.

“I clearly said I was going to support Bola Ahmed Tinubu. I didn’t hide it. Even before the problem was settled, I said, look, with the damage that has been done, we need to go back and reorganise and plan against the future,” he stated.

Wike additionally criticised the earlier Rivers State administration over reported expenditure on mosquito fumigation, a proposed specialist hospital and the planting of timber alongside main roads.

He questioned the quantity reportedly spent on a proposed 1,000-bed specialist hospital, alleging that building had but to start regardless of the massive expenditure.

He additionally criticised the reported price of planting timber alongside a serious street, describing the expenditure as a humiliation.