The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has urged residents of the territory not to repeat what he described as the mistake of the 2023 general elections, calling on them to support candidates endorsed by the Rainbow Coalition ahead of the 2027 elections.
Wike made the appeal on Monday during the commissioning of the Gwagwalada Civic Centre and an interactive meeting with political stakeholders from the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Gwagwalada Area Council, Abuja.
The minister also criticised politicians opposing the Rainbow Coalition, an alliance involving political stakeholders from both parties, accusing them of lacking the understanding and capacity to promote unity.
According to Wike, some politicians are more interested in their personal ambitions than working together for the development of their communities.
He said, “Some greedy and selfish politicians do not understand what we call unity. They have no capacity to hold their space; they have no capacity to even hold their families, and they have no capacity to hold their communities. So they can open their mouths and say there is no Rainbow Coalition.”
Wike challenged those criticising the alliance to explain why political leaders who previously belonged to different camps should not come together to pursue common interests and development in the FCT.
He described the political cooperation in Gwagwalada as a departure from previous hostility and confrontation, stressing that differences in political affiliations should not prevent leaders from working together.
The minister also called on residents across the FCT’s six area councils to elect representatives who would adequately address their concerns at the National Assembly.
He maintained that the territory needed lawmakers who would remain accessible to their constituents, understand the challenges facing their communities and effectively communicate their demands to the Federal Government.
Wike specifically canvassed support for former Senator Philip Aduda and other candidates endorsed by the Rainbow Coalition.
He urged political stakeholders to begin mobilising residents at the grassroots ahead of the 2027 elections, stressing that election day should be treated as an opportunity for the coalition to demonstrate its political strength through votes.
“On the day of the election, it will not be a day for market or fishing. It is the day all of us have decided to come together and demonstrate our strength through our votes,” he said.
He further called on residents and political supporters to mobilise voters for President Bola Tinubu.
“Go to the polling units, districts and communities and mobilise the people to vote for Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” Wike added.
Earlier, the FCT APC Chairman, Ishaku Tanko Yamawo, described the gathering as historic, noting that Wike’s intervention had brought together political leaders who previously belonged to opposing political camps.
Yamawo said politicians who once regarded themselves as rivals because of their party affiliations were now working together under one political arrangement in Gwagwalada.
He also credited the minister with helping to reduce political tension in the area, claiming that political activities had become more peaceful, with fewer incidents of violence and destruction of vehicles previously associated with campaigns.
Similarly, the FCT PDP Chairman, Ismaila Mohammed Dogara, commended Wike for reviving a project in Gwagwalada which he said had remained abandoned for 16 years.
Dogara also described the cooperation among political leaders from different parties as evidence of Wike’s efforts to encourage unity and collaboration among stakeholders in the territory.
READ ALSO:
- Abia To Host Multi-Billion-Naira Stroke And Neurovascular Centre
- ALTON Chairman Explains Why Summoning Telecom CEOs Won’t Solve Poor Network Services
- N70,000 Allowance: NLC, TUC Presidents Clash as Ajaero and Osifo Trade Accusations
- Tinubu Commits Re-Election Bid to Allah During Umrah in Saudi Arabia
- Francis Duru’s Family Announces Funeral Arrangements
