Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has begun mobilising political leaders and community stakeholders in Rivers State for President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid, urging them to build a broad grassroots campaign structure across Obio-Akpor Local Government Area.
Wike made the call on Friday during a strategic meeting with stakeholders of Akpor Kingdom, where he urged politicians, traditional rulers, religious leaders and other community figures to unite behind a common political direction ahead of the 2027 elections.
“Obio-Akpor as a whole, whether you are a politician, whether you are a traditional ruler, whether you are a pastor, or whether you are a native doctor, I need everybody now,” Wike told the gathering.
He explained that the mobilisation was necessary because all eligible voters would ultimately determine the outcome of the election.
“Because all of them will vote. For the purpose of voting and elections, we must bring everyone together,” he added.
The former Rivers State governor also directed local political leaders to establish unit coordinators and door-to-door campaign teams across polling units, urging them to mobilise their families, relatives and neighbours in support of Tinubu.
Wike singled out Wards 15, 16 and 17 in Obio-Akpor as strategic areas, claiming they have more than 200 polling units and could significantly influence the outcome of the local government.
“We have over 200 units across three very important wards—Ward 15, Ward 16, and Ward 17. These three wards can defeat 10 wards in Obio-Akpor. They are three wards with a difference, and you must utilise them to make that difference,” he said.
He said his renewed involvement in Rivers politics was not driven by personal gain but by what he described as a desire to contribute to the development of the state and its people.
“My interest in Rivers State is for God to use me as a vessel to help our people. I am back here not for what I will get, but for what I will be to raise my people,” Wike said.
The minister also defended his willingness to work with political actors who had previously opposed him, saying political relationships should be guided by collective interests rather than permanent disagreements.
“There is no permanent enemy in politics, what we have is permanent collective interest. It is all about the interest of our people. The more you are in number, the happier you become,” he said.
Wike urged his supporters not to be distracted by criticism of his political activities on social media, arguing that electoral strength depends on the ability to build a broad support base.
He linked his approach to his political experience in Obio-Akpor, recalling that he became the first elected chairman of the local government to secure a second term after its creation in 1989.
“I was not elected two times because I was just chairman. I was elected because people felt the impact of governance and because I related with the people,” he said.
Wike also recalled his appointment as FCT Minister under Tinubu, describing the development as a political outcome that had previously appeared unlikely.
“You know how difficult, you know how impossible it looked, but he made it possible for us to produce the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory,” he said.
The FCT minister has repeatedly declared his support for Tinubu ahead of the 2027 presidential election. He again told the Akpor gathering that he would resign as minister if the President loses both Rivers State and the FCT, a pledge that has featured in his recent political statements.
Wike said he would continue to monitor political developments in Rivers State and described himself as the state’s “chief critic”, promising to hold elected local government officials accountable.
He was accompanied at the meeting by House of Representatives member Kingsley Chinda and other political leaders.
