Tinubu Moves to Give Wike Campaign Role in Rivers, FCT

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is considering assigning Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, a defined role in his 2027 presidential campaign, with the former Rivers State governor expected to coordinate campaign activities in Rivers State and the Federal Capital Territory.

The proposed arrangement, reported by Arise News, would allow Tinubu to utilise Wike’s political network in the two territories while the minister remains a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Wike has repeatedly said he does not intend to defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC) to support Tinubu’s re-election bid.

The development comes amid disagreements between Wike and some APC governors over the organisation of support for Tinubu ahead of the 2027 election. Wike has promoted a broader political coalition in support of the President while maintaining his membership of the PDP.

Under the proposed campaign structure, former Zamfara State Governor, Senator Abdulaziz Yari, is expected to remain Director-General of the Presidential Campaign Council and oversee its day-to-day operations.

However, Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau are reportedly not expected to operate directly under Yari. Instead, the two National Assembly leaders are expected to have separate spheres of responsibility and direct lines within the wider campaign structure.

The proposed arrangement represents a departure from a single-chain-of-command structure and is reportedly intended to accommodate the different political blocs and influential figures involved in Tinubu’s re-election campaign.

Meanwhile, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, is being considered for a prominent spokesperson role in the campaign.

Keyamo has previous presidential campaign experience, having served in a senior communications role during Tinubu’s 2023 campaign and Buhari’s 2019 re-election campaign.

The reported changes would effectively give Wike a defined responsibility for mobilising presidential support in Rivers and the FCT without formally making him part of the APC’s internal hierarchy.

The current APC Presidential Campaign Council, constituted in August, has Yari as Director-General and Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma as Secretary, while Akpabio, Speaker Tajudeen Abbas and Yobe State Governor Mai Mala Buni were assigned deputy director-general roles.

The proposed additions and adjustments to the campaign structure are yet to be formally announced by the Presidency or the APC.