The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has declared himself the field commander of President Bola Tinubu’s re-election campaign in the FCT, pledging to coordinate political mobilisation in the territory and Rivers State ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Wike made the declaration on Monday at a stakeholders’ meeting of the Rainbow Coalition in Abuja, where he unveiled a cross-party strategy involving members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to secure Tinubu’s re-election.

The meeting also witnessed PDP National Assembly candidates in the FCT declaring support for their APC counterparts. Wike said the coalition had agreed to work together to ensure Tinubu’s victory and the success of APC candidates in the National Assembly elections.

He said he would coordinate the presidential campaign in the FCT and Rivers State, describing himself as the commander of field operations for the FCT election.

The meeting attracted APC and PDP stakeholders, including party chairmen, serving and former senators, National Assembly candidates and political leaders from the FCT’s six area councils.

He listed the establishment of the FCT Civil Service Commission, the appointment of a Head of the Civil Service from within the territory’s workforce, and the creation of the Women Affairs and Youth Development Secretariats among the administration’s achievements.

The minister also highlighted road construction and rehabilitation, school renovations, police stations and other public facilities as evidence of ongoing development across the territory.

On the economy, Wike defended Tinubu’s reform policies, acknowledging that some measures had caused hardship but arguing that difficult decisions were necessary to address longstanding economic challenges.

He maintained that the benefits of the reforms might take time to become evident.

Wike also expressed support for the proposed establishment of state police, describing it as an important step towards addressing Nigeria’s security challenges.

The Rainbow Coalition meeting forms part of political mobilisation efforts ahead of the 2027 general elections, with Wike seeking to rally supporters across party lines behind Tinubu’s re-election campaign.