Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu can be confident of victory in Rivers State ahead of the 2027 presidential election. He stated this while addressing supporters from both the All Progressives Congress and the Peoples Democratic Party during a visit to Port Harcourt City Local Government Area on Saturday.
Wike said Rivers State remains firmly aligned with President Tinubu and those who supported his election from the start. He maintained that neither he nor his political base could be forced out of the state’s political space or distracted from working for Tinubu’s second term.
He recalled how his political structure mobilized support for Tinubu during the 2023 election, despite resistance, and said the loyalty shown then should not be taken for granted. According to him, those who did not support Tinubu during the last election should not attempt to claim leadership of the current political movement now that the government is in place.
The minister urged his supporters to stay calm, united, and focused, adding that political distractions should not weaken their resolve. He explained that the visit was meant to thank the people of Rivers State for their support in 2023 and to encourage continued cooperation, while expressing hope that the coming year would be better than the last.
Earlier, the Mayor of Port Harcourt City Local Government Area, Sir Allwell Ihunda, praised President Tinubu for ensuring that elected local government chairmen are in office in the state. He also credited Wike’s eight-year tenure as governor with projects that improved daily life for residents and pledged readiness to follow political directions ahead of 2027.
Mrs Blessing Amadi, who represents Port Harcourt II Federal Constituency, applauded Wike for creating space for women in local government leadership, noting that women serve as vice chairmen across the state’s councils. She said the move gave women a stronger voice in governance.
Also speaking, Mr Smart Adoki, a member of the Rivers State House of Assembly representing Port Harcourt II, thanked Wike for supporting Tinubu in 2023 and said the state was already benefiting from that decision. He pledged continued loyalty to Wike, saying the minister still has more to offer the people of Rivers State.