President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is considering a defined role for the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, in his 2027 re-election campaign, with the former Rivers State governor expected to coordinate campaign activities in Rivers State and the FCT.
The proposed arrangement, revealed by an undisclosed source and other media outlets on Monday, September 21, 2026, is aimed at utilising Wike’s political network and influence in the two territories without requiring him to formally join the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Wike remains a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), although he has openly backed President Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid. He has repeatedly stated that he does not need to join the APC or occupy the position of Director-General of the presidential campaign council to support the President.
The emerging arrangement comes amid disagreements between Wike and some APC governors over the structure and coordination of political mobilisation ahead of the 2027 elections.
The dispute has particularly centred on Wike’s promotion of the “Rainbow Coalition,” a broader political alliance intended to mobilise support for Tinubu beyond the formal APC structure. APC governors, however, have maintained that party structures and candidates should remain central to the 2027 campaign.
Wike has also maintained that he has significant political structures in Rivers and the FCT and has publicly expressed his commitment to securing support for Tinubu in both territories.
According to the reported campaign arrangement, Wike’s responsibility would focus specifically on Tinubu’s presidential campaign rather than giving him control over the wider APC structures in Rivers State.
The development is significant in Rivers State, where political relations between Wike and Governor Siminalayi Fubara have remained a major issue ahead of 2027. Reports have also indicated that some APC governors have backed Fubara amid the continuing political differences involving the former governor.
The emerging campaign structure is expected to accommodate different political interests while assigning specific responsibilities to influential figures. Former Zamfara State Governor Abdulaziz Yari is reportedly being considered for the Director-General position, while Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau are expected to have separate responsibilities within the broader campaign arrangement.
Wike’s possible appointment therefore represents an effort to give him a clearly defined presidential campaign role while keeping the wider APC organisational structure separate from his political activities.
The reported arrangement has not yet been presented as a formally announced appointment by the Presidency, and details of the final campaign structure could still change.
