Rivers is ‘totally for Tinubu’ — Wike boasts on 2027 re-election push

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has said that supporters of President Bola Tinubu in Rivers State do not require the backing of a sitting governor to mobilise support for the President ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Wike made the remarks on Saturday in Port Harcourt during the inauguration of the headquarters of the Renewed Hope Ambassadors, a pro-Tinubu political support group.

He praised the Rivers State coordinator of the group, Desmond Akawor, for what he described as effective grassroots mobilisation, adding that Rivers State would play an active role in supporting President Tinubu’s re-election bid.

“I want to sincerely thank the coordinator of the Renewed Hope Ambassadors in Rivers State, Desmond Akawor, who has shown enough capacity to mobilise our people across the nooks and crannies of Rivers State to campaign for Tinubu in 2027,” Wike said.

The former Rivers governor declared the state a stronghold for the President, insisting that Tinubu enjoys overwhelming support across its political structures.

“I have said before that Rivers State is a no-go area, and I repeat that this place is totally for Tinubu,” he said, pointing to the inauguration of coordinators across the state’s 23 local government areas as evidence of that commitment.

Wike described the commissioning of the Renewed Hope Ambassadors’ secretariat and operational vehicles as unprecedented, calling it the first of its kind in the country. He said the development demonstrated tangible commitment rather than symbolic support.

“Our commitment is not by mouth or by newspaper. Our commitment is by action, by showing that we are truly working for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” he added.

The FCT minister stressed that political mobilisation in Rivers State did not depend on the influence of a sitting governor, noting that the gathering included senators, members of the National Assembly and State House of Assembly, council chairmen, and party leaders from both the APC and PDP.

“We don’t need a governor to mobilise for Mr President. We have all it takes to stand on our own,” Wike said. “If you say you are supporting someone, you must show commitment. You don’t wait for the person to bring resources.”

He also criticised unnamed governors, senators, and political leaders whom he accused of encouraging betrayal in Rivers State, warning that those who support betrayal would eventually be betrayed by their successors.