2027: Why I can't be Tinubu's campaign DG - Wike

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has said he is not interested in serving as the Director-General of President Bola Tinubu’s campaign council for the 2027 presidential election because of the challenges associated with the role.

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Mr Wike, a member of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) serving in the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led government, said history has shown that presidential campaign directors-general often lose their states while focusing on national campaigns.

The minister stated this on Saturday while addressing journalists during an inspection of the Apo-Karshi and Kubwa-Bwari roads in Abuja.

He referenced examples from the 2015, 2019 and 2023 elections, when campaign directors-general of presidential candidates lost their states to opposition parties.

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For the 2015 and 2019 elections, Mr Wike mentioned Rotimi Amaechi, a former governor of Rivers State and former Minister of Transportation, who served as Director-General of Muhammadu Buhari’s presidential campaign in both elections.

“In 2015, the Minister of Transport was the governor of Rivers State. He was the DG of Muhammadu Buhari. Before you knew, I pulled the carpet off his feet. He lost. He didn’t get 25 per cent. In 2019, he was Minister of Transport; he became the DG, and he lost his state too,” he said.

Mr Wike also mentioned Bukola Saraki, a former Senate President who served as Director-General of Atiku Abubakar’s presidential campaign in the 2019 election. He said Mr Saraki lost both the presidential election in Kwara State and his bid to return to the Senate.

“Bukola Saraki was the DG of Atiku campaign in 2019. He was running around doing ‘Atikulated’. I called him, ‘Why are you doing Atikulated? Go home!’ He lost his state! Lost his own seat, too,” he said.

Mr Wike also referenced Aminu Tambuwal, a former governor of Sokoto State and incumbent senator, who served as Director-General of Atiku Abubakar’s presidential campaign in 2023.

“In 2023, Aminu Tambuwal became DG of Atiku. He lost his state! In the same 2023, Lalong was the DG of the APC, the present president. He lost his state,” Mr Wike said.

President Tinubu had earlier on Saturday constituted the APC presidential campaign council ahead of the 2027 presidential election, appointing former Zamfara State governor, Abdulaziz Yari, as its Director-General.

The composition of the council was announced by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, who is also the coordinating director for Media and Strategic Communication of the campaign council.

Mr Tinubu will serve as chairman of the council, while Vice President Kashim Shettima will be the vice chairman. APC National Chairman Nentawe Yilwatda was also designated a vice chairman.

Mr Yari, the senator representing Zamfara West, will serve as director-general, while Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma will be the council’s secretary.

Several other prominent APC members, including serving and former governors and senators, were also appointed to the council.

The campaign council will have an advisory body comprising former APC National Chairman Bisi Akande, veteran journalist and ex-Ogun Governor Segun Osoba, former Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha, former APC National Chairman Abdullahi Adamu, and a former senator, Florence Ita-Giwa.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas, and Yobe State Governor Mala Buni were appointed deputy directors-general for the southern and northern parts of the country.

My focus for 2027

Mr Wike said his focus was not on becoming a campaign director-general but on delivering results in his two political bases, Rivers State and the FCT

“I don’t want to lose my state! I will be in my state. I have two states: FCT and Rivers. What is important is that you are able to deliver those two states. So it is not about being DG. If you are DG and you don’t win your state, what is the essence of the DG?” Mr Wike asked.

The minister also ruled out serving on Mr Tinubu’s presidential campaign council because he is not a member of the APC.

“I am not a member of the APC. So the issue of their Presidential Campaign Council is out of the question,” he said.

Mr Wike, however, said he has strategies that would help Mr Tinubu emerge victorious in the election.

“When we were fighting for the President to be president in 2023, we were not members of the APC Presidential Campaign Council, but we were fighting. So, we had our own strategies on how the president would emerge,” he said.