Nyesom Wike, minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), says he will ensure that only candidates aligned with Bola Tinubu win the February 21 area council election.
Wike spoke on Saturday in Abuja. There, he addressed guests at the 60th birthday celebration of Sandy Onor, a former senator who represented Cross River Central.
‘I Have a Duty’
Notably, Wike dismissed party affiliation as irrelevant. Instead, he placed loyalty to the president at the centre of his decision.
“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,” he said.
Furthermore, he escalated his position. He vowed to work against candidates who do not back the president.
“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,” he added.
Thus, Wike drew a clear political line ahead of the polls.
Election Stakes Rise
Meanwhile, political tension continues to build in the FCT. The council election is widely seen as a test of influence and loyalty ahead of broader political contests.
Consequently, some candidates have demanded a level playing field. They insist on a free and fair process. They also call for equal opportunity, regardless of political alignment.
However, critics quickly pushed back against Wike’s remarks.
Benjamin Nnamdi, a political commentator known as Ben Anslem on X, described the statement as “deeply troubling and undemocratic.”
According to him, such comments undermine democratic principles.
“When a sitting minister like Nyesom Wike openly declares that only candidates loyal to Bola Ahmed Tinubu will win council elections, it sends a dangerous signal that governance [is] not the people’s will,” he wrote.
Ultimately, the FCT area council election will hold on February 21.
