By Joyce Remi-Babayeju
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, ( FCT), Barr. Nyesom Wike has urged Stakeholders in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to vote for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's re-election bid and endorsed Senator Philip Tanimu Aduda, Hon. John Gabaya for Gabaya and Hon.Danladi Chiya ahead of the January 16, 2027 elections.
Wike made the endorsements of Sen. Philip Tanimu Aduda, Hon. John Gbadaya fir Abuja North and Hon. Danladi Chiya for Abuja South Federal Constituency, on Saturday October 31, 2026 in Abuja at the FCTStakeholders Rally at the Old Parade Ground,
The endorsement, which brought together political leaders, traditional rulers, council chairmen, mandate secretaries and other stakeholders.
The gathering also featured a strong political message directed at the incumbent Senator representing the FCT, Ireti Kingibe, with participants declaring that they were ready to say goodbye to her at the polls.
The Minister called on Abuja indigenes and residents to turn out in large numbers to support President Tinubu and the endorsed candidates in the forthcoming elections.
He, who described the endorsement as an opportunity for the people to make a political statement, while urging them to support candidates they believed understood their needs and were accessible to them.
He specifically endorsed Senator Philip Tanimu Aduda for the FCT senatorial seat, alongside Chiya and other candidates seeking elective positions in the territory.
The Minister also canvassed support for a former Kwali Area Council chairman, whom he described as a son of the area, for representation in the House of Representatives.
Wike, speaking on behalf of President Tinubu and the endorsed political candidates, expressed appreciation to traditional rulers, political leaders, stakeholders and residents for the show of support.
He urged the people not to repeat what he described as the political mistake of 2023, insisting that lessons had been learnt and that the forthcoming election offered an opportunity to make a different political choice.
"Are we going to make the same mistake we made in 2023?" he asked, prompting a resounding response of "No!" from the gathering.
The Minister argued that political representation should be based on accessibility, responsiveness and the ability of elected officials to identify with the challenges of their constituents.
Taking a swipe at the incumbent FCT Senator, Ireti Kingibe, Wike questioned her relationship with the people and challenged the gathering to assess her performance in terms of constituency engagement and development.
He repeatedly asked whether she had visited constituents, reached out to them or facilitated initiatives for the improvement of their communities, drawing negative responses from the audience.
The gathering subsequently echoed the political declaration, "Bye-bye!" in an apparent rejection of Kingibe's return to the Senate in 2027.
Wike urged FCT residents to rally behind the endorsed candidates, stressing the importance of electing representatives who maintain close relationships with their constituents.
The endorsement signals an intensification of political activities in the FCT ahead of the 2027 general elections, with the contest for the senatorial seat expected to attract considerable attention.
0 Comments