The All Progressives Congress (APC) has said that Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has not approached the party for financial or logistical assistance despite his involvement in President Bola Tinubu’s re-election campaign.
The party’s National Secretary, Ajibola Basiru, made this known during an interview with The Sun, where he dismissed concerns that Wike’s political activities, particularly through his Rainbow Coalition, could undermine the APC’s interests.
Basiru said the minister had not requested any form of support from the ruling party, adding that his decision to support Tinubu was a welcome development.
“Wike has not come to ask us for any support. He has not asked for financial resources or logistics, so I am not bothered about what he does,” he said.
He maintained that the APC was focused on strengthening its structures and ensuring victory for all its candidates in the 2027 general elections, rather than being distracted by political alliances outside the party.
According to him, APC governors have a responsibility to secure electoral victories for the party’s presidential, governorship and legislative candidates in their respective states.
“The governors have the responsibility to deliver for all the candidates of the APC in their states. They said it publicly, and they should work hard to deliver,” Basiru stated.
He added that every party member and political officeholder had clearly defined responsibilities ahead of the elections.
“Everybody’s responsibility is clear-cut. There should be no problem about delivering, as a governor, for all the candidates of our party in your state,” he said.
The APC National Secretary further explained that the party would welcome anyone willing to work towards Tinubu’s re-election, regardless of their political affiliation.
“Anybody who is interested in partnering with the party to deliver the President is a friend of the party,” he said.
Basiru, however, stressed that the APC would campaign for all its candidates across the various elective positions, including the presidency, governorship, Senate, House of Representatives and State Houses of Assembly.
He also expressed satisfaction with Wike’s reported decision to coordinate Tinubu’s re-election campaign in Rivers State and the Federal Capital Territory.
Asked whether the minister’s political activities could negatively affect APC candidates, Basiru said the party would continue mobilising support for its flagbearers.
“I am not a clairvoyant. Unless our candidates were not popular before, we will mobilise for them,” he said.
On allegations that Wike was supporting Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidates against some APC governors, Basiru said the party leadership had not received any formal complaint from its governors.
“The governors have not come to complain to us,” he added.
Basiru also defended Tinubu’s performance in office, arguing that the administration had made progress in stabilising the economy and improving financial support to states.
He claimed that monthly allocations to state governments had risen to approximately ₦2 trillion, while more than 1.6 million students had benefited from education loans and over 10 million Nigerians had received cash transfers.
The APC official also dismissed suggestions that Tinubu might miss some campaign activities because of health concerns, insisting that the President remained physically fit.
“The reason the President may not attend cannot be laid on alleged ill health. He is very fit,” Basiru said.
