Fayose Defends Wike’s 2027 Strategy: Support Tinubu Only, Keep PDP Alive for Other Races
Abuja, Nigeria—September 15, 2026—Former Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose has thrown his weight behind Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike’s carefully calibrated position on the 2027 elections, insisting that the minister has never claimed support for candidates beyond President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid because he wants to keep the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) intact.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today’s program, Fayose stated: “Wike has not put it out there that he is supporting people beyond the presidency because he still wants to keep the PDP. Wike has not hidden his position; neither have I hidden my position…”
The comments come on the same day Wike himself issued a clear clarification. In a statement released by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka, the FCT minister, affirmed that his mobilization efforts are strictly for Tinubu’s second term while the PDP remains free to field candidates in governorship, National Assembly, and State House of Assembly elections.
Wike Draws Clear Line on Rainbow Coalition
Wike dismissed suggestions that the “rainbow coalition” — a platform uniting politicians from different parties to back Tinubu—amounts to an arrangement with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
He described it instead as a cross-party effort to support a president he believes has performed well enough to deserve another term.
“What I said and stand for is that I will mobilise support for the reelection of the President. I never promised anyone that PDP will not field candidates to contest governorship, National Assembly and States House of Assembly elections,” Wike said.
He further argued that politics remains local, urging those facing challenges in their states to resolve them without linking every contest to the presidential race.
Wike recalled that the G5 governors who backed Tinubu in 2023 did so without formal meetings with the APC, and insisted the same principle applies now.
Fayose’s Consistent Alignment
Fayose, a longtime ally of Wike and fellow member of the former G5 group, has repeatedly made his own position public.
He has openly supported Tinubu since 2023, predicted a strong showing for the president in 2027, and maintained that he will never join the APC while remaining a PDP member.
His latest remarks reinforce the shared stance that presidential support does not require abandoning the opposition party at lower levels.
The former governor’s comments form part of broader discussions on *Politics Today* about early campaign consultations by the APC and the fragmented state of the opposition ahead of 2027.
Political Context and Implications
Wike’s dual role—remaining a PDP member while serving in Tinubu’s cabinet and openly campaigning for the president’s re-election—has long fuelled debate within the opposition.
Critics accuse him of weakening the PDP; supporters argue he is being pragmatic and transparent.
By limiting his commitment to the presidency and preserving space for the PDP in other races, Wike and Fayose appear to be attempting a delicate balancing act: delivering votes for Tinubu while retaining influence within the party structure they have not fully abandoned.
As the 2027 election cycle gathers pace, these public positions are likely to shape negotiations within both the ruling party and the opposition.
Stakeholders will be watching closely to see whether the “support the president only” formula holds or whether pressures at state level force clearer alignments.
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