By Daniel Tyokua
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has declared that Rivers State is firmly behind President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid.
He boasted that the President is the only candidate capable of winning the state in the 2027 general election.
Wike stated this on Tuesday, during his monthly media chat in Abuja, saying political calculations that do not favour Tinubu should exclude Rivers State.
He insisted that a broad coalition cutting across major political parties had already resolved to deliver the state for the President.
The former Governor of Rivers state disclosed that members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the All Progressives Congress (APC), the Labour Party (LP), the Action Alliance (AA) and other political groups had formed a united front to support Tinubu while backing consensus candidates for legislative elections, regardless of party affiliation.
He said the coalition is driven by the desire to protect the interests of Rivers State rather than promote partisan politics.
“Today, we have PDP, APC, Labour Party, AA all together. If anybody is counting Rivers, go now and cancel it. The only person that can count Rivers is Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. I’m not talking because I want to talk; I’m talking as a political realist because I know my people,” he said.
“We have candidates across different political parties for the House of Assembly and National Assembly. We will support the candidate who is most acceptable. Whoever emerges should not be seen as APC or PDP; the person should be seen as the coalition’s candidate.
“All we are doing is for one purpose—to support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. It is all-inclusive and it is spreading like wildfire,” he said.
“For me, what matters is Rivers State. If Rivers State is relevant because projects are coming and people are benefiting from government, then I am satisfied. It is not about personal ambition; it is about the interest of the state,” he stated.
Wike dismissed claims that the coalition was designed to strengthen any political party, maintaining that its primary objective was to secure more federal projects and development for Rivers State.
