2027: Wike Reacts To Claim That Tinubu’s Picture Was Removed From Posters Of Northern APC Candidates

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has rejected suggestions that some All Progressives Congress (APC) candidates in Northern Nigeria are distancing themselves from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Wike made his position known during a media chat livestreamed by Africa Independent Television (AIT) on Tuesday, where he responded to concerns that certain APC governorship and senatorial candidates in the region were allegedly avoiding the president’s image on their campaign posters.

During the interview, the minister dismissed the claims, insisting that they did not accurately reflect the political situation across Northern Nigeria. He maintained that Tinubu continued to enjoy support in the region and argued that reports suggesting otherwise were misleading.

To support his position, Wike referred to recent APC campaign rallies held in Nasarawa State and Kogi State, pointing to the large crowds reportedly gathered at the events as evidence of continued political mobilisation in support of the president.

The FCT minister questioned why the rallies were being overlooked by those suggesting that Tinubu was losing ground in the North. He argued that the public campaigns demonstrated that the president’s supporters remained active and that political activities in individual states should be considered when assessing the wider situation.

Wike specifically cited the campaign event in Nasarawa State held on the preceding Saturday, asking who the participants were campaigning for.

He also mentioned a rally in Kogi State, challenging the suggestion that the president lacked sufficient backing in Northern Nigeria.

Speaking during the media session, Wike said: “You saw the campaign in Nasarawa on Saturday; campaign for who? That is not the North? You saw the campaign yesterday in Kogi; Kogi is where? They were campaigning for who? You see, you are the ones selling this wrong information to Nigerians. I’m part of Nigerians. I’m telling you what is on ground.”

The minister further argued that reports of reluctance among candidates in one or two states should not be used to draw conclusions about the entire northern region. According to him, political developments in a limited number of states do not necessarily indicate a general decline in support for the president across Northern Nigeria.

He maintained that differences in campaign strategies among individual candidates were not sufficient evidence to conclude that the APC was struggling to rally support for Tinubu.

Wike also acknowledged that a presidential candidate could not reasonably expect to receive uniform support in every part of the country.

“If you say one or two states are not campaigning, it is their business. We are not talking about one or two states in the North. We are talking about the North as a whole. There is no way you can say a president will win everywhere,” he added.

Wike’s comments come as political parties and their candidates begin strengthening their campaigns and alliances ahead of the 2027 general elections. The level of support Tinubu can secure across the country is expected to remain an important subject of political debate as the election approaches.

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