Why APC included opposition figures like me in campaign council — Wike

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has explained why the All Progressives Congress (APC) included politicians who are not members of the party in President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 presidential campaign council.

Wike, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), said the decision was based on the need to accommodate people outside the APC who were willing to contribute to Tinubu’s re-election bid.

He spoke on Tuesday during a media parley in Abuja while reacting to his appointment alongside Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke and Anambra State Governor Chukwuma Soludo as state campaign coordinators in the APC’s revised presidential campaign council.

“My thinking is that the president, in his wisdom, said there are those who are not members of our political parties but have something to offer to his re-election, and it’s proper to accommodate them,” he said.

He added that the campaign should bring together people willing to support Tinubu’s continuation in office, regardless of their party affiliations.

“We have said that the re-election of Mr President should not just be APC, because here is a platform; the constitution does not say an individual can run, you must have a platform, and that platform is APC, which is an umbrella that people will want to use to further their political ambition,” Wike said.

“That gives the holistic view that there are those who are ready for Mr President to be re-elected to continue the good work we think he’s doing for Nigeria, and we’re happy to be part of it.”

Under the expanded campaign council arrangement, Wike will coordinate the APC campaign in Rivers State and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). Soludo, a member of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), will oversee Anambra State, while Adeleke, who was re-elected as Osun governor under the Accord Party, will coordinate efforts in Osun State.