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From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has said he does not see any alternative to President Bola Tinubu ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
Wike, who spoke during an interview on TVC’s Journalists’ Hangout on Monday, said no opposition politician had presented a better alternative to the policies and decisions of the Tinubu administration.
“I don’t see anybody who has brought a better alternative to whatever the President is doing today,” he said.
The FCT Minister said his support for Tinubu was based on his assessment of the President’s leadership and willingness to take difficult decisions.
He cited the administration’s position on state police and devolution of power as examples of what he described as bold policy choices.
“I can sell to Nigerian people: look at this type of president. See what he has said. See what I said,” Wike said.
He also dismissed the argument that opposition rallies or crowd sizes were evidence of electoral strength, saying political gatherings alone could not determine the outcome of an election.
According to him, politicians seeking to challenge Tinubu in 2027 should present clear alternatives to the administration’s policies instead of relying on public rallies and political promises.
Wike also challenged opposition proposals to restore petrol subsidy, asking proponents to explain the legal and economic implications of such a policy.
He said Nigerians deserved to know the full consequences of any promise to return subsidy, arguing that political parties should provide concrete solutions rather than make promises designed only to appeal to voters.
The minister further defended the emerging Rainbow Coalition, saying its primary objective was to mobilise support for Tinubu’s re-election and not to prevent members of other political parties from contesting legislative or governorship elections.
He maintained that supporting Tinubu for president did not automatically require politicians to abandon their other political interests.
Wike argued that politicians could support a presidential candidate while backing different candidates in state and National Assembly elections.
He cited the 2023 elections, when voters in some states supported one party at the presidential level and another party in legislative contests, as evidence that such voting patterns were not unusual.
He said the same principle applied to the Rainbow Coalition, insisting that its members were free to support Tinubu while their parties fielded candidates for other elective positions.
Wike also dismissed claims that President Tinubu had agreed to concede nine states to him as part of the coalition ahead of the 2027 elections.
He challenged those circulating the claim to identify the alleged states, insisting that there was no such agreement between him and the President.
“Who are those states? Tell us that they said the President agreed with me that they are conceding my states,” Wike said.
“You see, we must let Nigerians know the truth. Tell them the truth. Which are my states? A, B, C? As I speak to you, you know Mr President. We are working with Mr President.”
The FCT Minister said the allegation was inconsistent with his stated support for Tinubu, arguing that his political activities were aimed at strengthening the President’s re-election bid.
He also disclosed that Tinubu was aware of the Rainbow Coalition, which he said was focused on mobilising support for the President rather than securing political control of states for himself.
Wike further accused some governors opposing the coalition of being more concerned about their political survival than Tinubu’s re-election.
He argued that politicians facing internal problems in their states should resolve them instead of portraying the Rainbow Coalition as a threat to the President.
According to him, some politicians displaced from party structures were seeking alternative platforms from which to contest elections while continuing to support Tinubu.
“People who came to take refuge in a place that still support President, you are angry. If they are going to another party, ADC or NNPP, we leave the President,” he said.
Wike insisted that his political alignment was not driven by personal ambition, saying his immediate focus was to ensure Tinubu’s return to office in 2027.
He also dismissed questions about his political base, arguing that his influence should not be measured solely by formal party membership.
He claimed that serving and former National Assembly members, state lawmakers and local government political actors were aligned with him, describing them as part of a political network capable of mobilising support.
Wike maintained that his support for Tinubu was based on the administration’s policies and decisions, not on any alleged agreement to control states or secure future political positions.
