Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has put his continued stay in office on the outcome of the 2027 presidential election in the Federal Capital Territory and Rivers State.
Wike said he would resign as FCT Minister if President Bola Ahmed Tinubu fails to win both territories in the election.
He made the declaration while addressing members of the Apo Traders Association in Abuja, where he spoke about his political support for the President and his responsibility as the minister overseeing the nation’s capital.
According to Wike, the support for Tinubu is not restricted to members of the All Progressives Congress, as some Peoples Democratic Party members are also backing the President.
“I’ll tell you one thing about this place. We are doing rainbow coalition. Even people in the PDP, we are supporting Tinubu, right?” Wike said.
‘FCT is where I work’
Wike explained that he regards the FCT as his place of work, while Rivers State remains his home state. He said his inability to secure support for Tinubu in either location would amount to a failure on his part.
“You see, FCT is where I work. Rivers State is my state, right? And if I cannot deliver where I work, then I am not worthy to be here,” he said.
The minister added that losing either the FCT or Rivers State would suggest that residents were dissatisfied with his performance and could therefore raise questions about his suitability to remain in office.
“It means that whatever I am doing here, people don’t think that I’m doing the right thing. And even if I was here, I shouldn’t be in that position,” he said.
Resignation date announced
Wike said he was willing to personally accept responsibility for the electoral outcome, giving a specific date for his proposed resignation.
He noted that the presidential election is scheduled for January 16, 2027, and said he would announce his resignation the following day if Tinubu loses both the FCT and Rivers State.
“I’m a practical person. The presidential election is on January 16, 2027. By January 17, 2027, I will announce my resignation as FCT Minister should the President lose in Rivers State and the FCT,” Wike added.
