Candidates not aligned with Tinubu won’t win FCT council election – Wike

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, says he will ensure that only candidates aligned with President Bola Tinubu emerge victorious in the February 21 area council election.

Wike made the declaration on Saturday in Abuja during the 60th birthday celebration of Sandy Onor, a former senator who represented Cross River Central.

The minister said party affiliation would not determine his support in the forthcoming council polls, stressing that his backing would go strictly to candidates who support the president.

“We have the FCT area council election coming up on February 21, and I have a duty to support any candidate that supports President Tinubu to win,” Wike said.

“It is also my duty to ensure that any candidate who is not supporting Tinubu does not win in the election, and I owe no apology for my stance.”

His remarks come amid calls by candidates and stakeholders for a free and fair election process with equal opportunity for all contestants.

In January, Moses Paul, candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) for the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), appealed to Wike to support his bid.

Paul said he shares the minister’s performance-driven governance philosophy and described himself as “Mr Project,” a nickname associated with Wike during his tenure as Rivers State governor. He added that he had contributed to renovating primary schools and improving primary healthcare centres within AMAC.

The incumbent AMAC chairman, Christopher Maikalangu, was elected in 2022 on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in April 2025 and is seeking re-election.

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