Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has vowed to resign from office on 17 January 2027 if President Bola Ahmed Tinubu loses the Federal Capital Territory and Rivers State in the presidential election.
Wike made the declaration on Wednesday while addressing leaders and members of the Apo Mechanics and Traders Association in Abuja, where he also reaffirmed his support for Tinubu’s re-election bid.
The minister said his political performance in the two territories would determine whether he deserved to remain in office, describing the FCT as the place where he works and Rivers as his home state.
“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 and the FCT,” he said.
Wike, a former governor of Rivers State, said he would accept responsibility if Tinubu failed to secure victory in either territory.
According to him, “If I cannot deliver where I work, then I’m not worthy to be here. If I lose FCT, I shouldn’t be in that position. I’m a practical person. If I lose FCT, I have no business being the minister.”
The minister’s declaration comes as political mobilisation intensifies ahead of the 2027 general elections and as he takes a prominent role in efforts to build a cross-party coalition in support of Tinubu.
Wike told the traders that his political coalition was being expanded beyond the presidential contest to cover legislative elections in the FCT.
He said the coalition would bring together members of different political parties to mobilise voters for candidates backed by the group.
“Let us be clear on direction: for the presidency, it is Bola Tinubu! For the Senate, Philip Aduda. He is a man of the people, unlike those who only appear on television,” Wike said.
He also endorsed former FCT Senator Philip Aduda for the Senate and backed former area council chairmen contesting House of Representatives seats.
The former Rivers governor has remained a member of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party while serving in Tinubu’s Federal Executive Council, a political arrangement that has placed him at the centre of the administration’s efforts to attract support beyond the ruling All Progressives Congress.
The meeting also focused on the planned relocation of mechanics and traders operating around Apo to the Wasa informal sector area.
Wike assured the traders that the relocation process would be completed by the end of the year and said physical enumeration of beneficiaries was being undertaken.
The traders, in turn, praised the FCT Administration over infrastructure projects in the area, particularly the dualisation of the Apo road.
Chairman of the Apo Trade Association, Chimezie Efe, said the road project had improved business activity in the area.
“The road is so useful to us. It made our customers come close to us. In fact, since the road was built, our business has been moving well.”
Efe subsequently pledged the association’s support for Tinubu.
“Honourable minister, sir, I give you a promise that the entire members of the Apo Traders Association have agreed that our votes go to APC,” he said.
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