By Divine Sam

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has declared that his political focus in Rivers State ahead of the 2027 presidential election is to secure overwhelming support for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid.

Wike made the position known during a meeting in Port Harcourt with supporters of Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara and youth leaders aligned with the governor.

The minister urged political loyalists and supporters across the state to rally behind Tinubu, arguing that strong support for the President could improve Rivers State’s chances of attracting federal appointments, infrastructure projects and other political benefits.

According to Wike, maintaining a strong working relationship with the Federal Government is important to preserving the state’s influence in national politics.

He also called on party faithful, youth groups and community stakeholders to put past disagreements aside, forgive previous mistakes and unite behind Tinubu ahead of the 2027 election.

Emphasising the political importance of the state’s voting strength, Wike said: “Politics is about figuring out where the state stands to gain the most power. Tinubu is the only thing I wish to hear in this state.

“If we continue to act the way we are now, and if we are among the first three states to receive the most votes, we will get more of these positions.”

Wike’s remarks underline his push for Rivers State to deliver substantial electoral support for Tinubu, with the minister linking the state’s voting performance to its prospects of securing greater representation and federal attention.

As political activities ahead of the 2027 general elections gather momentum, Rivers State remains a significant political battleground, with alliances among political leaders, party loyalists and grassroots supporters likely to shape the contest.