Wike Says Rivers’ Tinubu Campaign Is Self-Sustaining Ahead of 2027

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has insisted that supporters of President Bola Tinubu in Rivers State are fully capable of mobilising for his re-election in 2027 without relying on the backing of a sitting governor.

Wike made the assertion on Saturday in Port Harcourt while commissioning the headquarters of the Rivers State Renewed Hope Ambassadors, a facility that houses Majority FM 89.5, a situation room, office spaces and operational buses.

At the event, the former Rivers State governor applauded the coordinator of the Renewed Hope Ambassadors in the state, Ambassador Desmond Akawor, for what he described as effective grassroots mobilisation, saying the structure already in place positioned Rivers State strongly for the next general election.

“Desmond Akawor, you have shown enough capacity to mobilise, you have moved to all the nooks and crannies of Rivers to talk about Tinubu for President in 2027,” Wike said.

He further reaffirmed his long-standing claim about the state’s political direction, declaring that Rivers State was firmly aligned with President Tinubu.

“I have said before that Rivers State is a no-go area, and I want to say again that this State is totally for Tinubu. We have made sure that all the 23 local governments and zonal coordinators were inaugurated, that day Nigerians all over the world watched that Rivers State is a no-go area,” he said.

Wike described the newly commissioned Renewed Hope Ambassadors’ facilities as unprecedented in the state and challenged critics to compare the level of organisation with what exists elsewhere.

“I challenge anybody, let them come to Rivers State and learn, our commitment is not by mouth, our commitment is not by newspaper, ours is by showing, that yes indeed, we are working for the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” he said.

Emphasising that political mobilisation in Rivers was internally driven, Wike said support for Tinubu was being sustained by elected officials and party leaders across party lines.

“We don’t need to have a governor to mobilise for Mr President, we don’t need, we have all it takes to be on our own, we have senators, assembly people, council chairman, National Assembly members, party chairmen of APC and PDP, we have mobilised ourselves to make commitment,” he said.

Reflecting on the 2023 general elections, the minister said the decision taken by his supporters at the time was voluntary and had shaped the current political landscape in the state.

“In 2023, we came out without anybody pressuring us, without anybody influencing us, we took a decision, to the glory of God that decision is what we are enjoying today,” Wike said, adding that support for Tinubu in 2027 was assured should the president choose to run again.

He also urged the Renewed Hope Ambassadors to further strengthen their grassroots presence, directing the leadership to extend their structure to the ward and unit levels.

“Mr Coordinator, you have to start preparing to inaugurate ward and unit coordinators. We must also take it down to the units, to go and talk to our people to continue to support Mr President, go and see the situation room, go and see the radio station. We are battle-ready, there is nothing we can not do because unity is strength,” he said.

Earlier, Ambassador Akawor, in his welcome address, thanked Wike and other dignitaries for attending the commissioning and commended the minister for what he described as decisive leadership of the Renewed Hope Ambassadors movement in Rivers State.

Akawor disclosed that coordinators had been appointed in all 23 local government areas of the state and described Wike’s political strategy as a unique model he referred to as AI politics.