Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike has reiterated his support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election, saying he never promised that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) would not field candidates in governorship, National Assembly and State House of Assembly elections.

Wike said the Rainbow Coalition had nothing to do with the All Progressives Congress (APC), describing it as a platform for members of different political parties who are satisfied with the “good works” of President Tinubu and are supporting his re-election.

In a statement on Tuesday by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka, Wike said he would not be responsible for helping governors win elections in their respective states.

He maintained that “politics is local,” urging politicians facing challenges in their states to resolve them rather than using the President’s re-election bid to create unnecessary sentiments.

Wike noted that he never met with the APC before he and other members of the G5 supported Tinubu in the 2023 presidential election, stressing that his support for 2027 is specifically for the President.

Taking a swipe at Imo State Governor Hope Uzodinma, Wike questioned how the APC won two senatorial seats in Imo State in 2023 despite recording less than 15 per cent of the presidential votes in the same election.

“In Imo State under Governor Hope Uzodinma, how did APC win two senate seats in 2023, in an election held the same day with that of the President and APC had less than 15 percent in the presidential election? Was it Rainbow Coalition? Were the voters confused?” he asked.

He also cited the APC’s victories in National Assembly elections in Ebonyi, Abia and Enugu states, where Tinubu reportedly secured less than 10 per cent of the presidential votes, arguing that voters were capable of making different choices in different elections.

Wike said that if voters in Imo, Abia, Enugu and Ebonyi states could vote for APC candidates in senatorial elections while supporting other parties in the presidential election in 2023, they could do the same in 2027.

The minister urged political stakeholders to prioritise Tinubu’s presidential re-election before turning their attention to state-level contests.

“What I said and stand for is that I will mobilise support for the re-election of the President. I never promised anyone that PDP will not field candidates to contest governorship, National Assembly and State House of Assembly elections.

“Most importantly, Rainbow Coalition has nothing to do with the APC. Rather, it is our own way of mobilising support across political parties for Mr President, who has done well to deserve a second term,” he said.