Wike says he did not promise PDP would refrain from fielding candidates in Nigeria
In Nigeria, Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike said he had not promised that the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) would refrain from fielding candidates in the 2027 governorship and parliamentary elections. At the same time, he said he would mobilize support for the re-election of President Bola Tinubu.
As Premium Times Nigeria reports, Wike responded to criticism from the All Progressives Congress (APC) Governors' Forum over the Rainbow Coalition. According to him, the coalition is intended to mobilize Tinubu supporters across different political parties and has no connection to the APC.
Wike's position on the PDP
The minister stressed that his support for Tinubu's re-election does not mean that the PDP will not take part in other elections. He said he had not made any promise to anyone that the party would not field candidates in elections for governors, the National Assembly, and state legislatures.
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The APC Governors' Forum, led by Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma, had earlier opposed political coalitions or alliances which, in the forum's view, could weaken the party and its candidates ahead of the 2027 elections. Some APC representatives also expressed concerns that the coalition could support politicians who lost APC primaries and are running under the PDP.
Criticism of APC governors
Wike urged APC governors to focus on Tinubu's campaign. He also questioned Uzodimma's ability to secure a victory for the president in Imo State, referring to the results of the 2023 elections. According to the minister, that year APC candidates won two Senate seats from the state, while Tinubu received less than 15% of the vote in the presidential election.
Wike also mentioned Ebonyi, Abia, and Enugu states. He said that in those states, the APC won individual seats in the National Assembly, although Tinubu, according to him, received less than 10% of the vote in the presidential election.
