The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has declared that his support in the upcoming FCT Area Council elections will be reserved strictly for candidates who align with President Bola Tinubu’s leadership and political direction.
Wike made this known in Abuja during the 60th birthday celebration of Senator Sandy Onor, where he stressed that loyalty to the president would determine who earns his backing in the February 21, 2026 polls.
According to a statement released by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka, the minister said party affiliation would not influence his decision, provided the candidate supports the president’s agenda.
Wike explained that he considers it a personal responsibility to ensure that individuals loyal to Tinubu emerge victorious in the elections. He added that he would actively oppose candidates who do not share the president’s political vision.
He stated that his stance was firm and non-negotiable, emphasizing that he owes no apology for supporting those who align with the current administration.
The FCT Area Council elections are scheduled to hold on Saturday, February 21, with voting expected to commence at 8:30 a.m. across polling units within the territory.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has confirmed that approximately 1.68 million registered voters have been cleared to participate in the exercise.
Voters will elect chairpersons and vice-chairpersons across the six area councils, alongside 62 councillors representing 68 political wards.
INEC also disclosed that the IReV portal will be deployed for real-time result viewing to improve transparency and public confidence in the electoral process.
Major political parties, including the All Progressives Congress (APC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and African Democratic Congress (ADC), have presented candidates for the election.
To ensure security, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps has announced the deployment of about 4,000 personnel across the FCT to maintain peace and order during the polls.
Meanwhile, a Federal High Court ruling has disqualified the Labour Party from fielding candidates in the election due to alleged nomination irregularities.
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