The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has rallied political stakeholders in Rivers State to support President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election.

Wike spoke on Friday during a consultative meeting with stakeholders of Akpor Kingdom in Obio-Akpor Local Government Area of the state.

He also reiterated his pledge to resign as FCT minister if Tinubu loses the presidential election in Rivers State and the FCT.

Wike said his involvement in Rivers politics was driven by his desire to contribute to the state, urging political actors to put aside past disagreements and work towards a broader support base.

“My interest in Rivers State is for God to use me as a vessel to help our people. I am back here not for what I will get, but for what I will be to raise my people.

“There is no permanent enemy in politics; what we have is permanent collective interest,” Wike said.

The former Rivers State governor said political leaders needed to bring different groups together ahead of the election, including traditional rulers, religious leaders and other community stakeholders.

“Obio-Akpor as a whole, whether you are a politician, whether you are a traditional ruler, whether you are a pastor, or whether you are a native doctor, I need everybody now.

“Because all of them will vote. For the purpose of voting and elections, we must bring everyone together,” Wike said.

Wike also identified Wards 15, 16 and 17 in Obio-Akpor as important areas in his mobilisation efforts, saying they had more than 200 polling units.

“We have over 200 units across three very important wards: Ward 15, Ward 16, and Ward 17. These three wards can defeat ten wards in Obio-Akpor.

“They are three wards with a difference, and you must utilise them to make that difference,” he said.

He directed political leaders to appoint unit coordinators and door-to-door canvassers across the polling units and mobilise residents ahead of the election.

Wike also recalled his tenure as the first elected chairman of Obio-Akpor to win a second term after the council’s creation in 1989, attributing his re-election to his relationship with residents and the impact of his administration.

“I was not elected two times because I was just Chairman.

“I was elected because people felt the impact of governance and because I related with the people. Anywhere, whether for burial or thanksgiving, I was always identifying with them,” he said.

He further said he would continue to monitor elected local government officials in Rivers State, describing himself as the state’s “Chief Critic”.

Wike was accompanied by the Rivers State APC governorship candidate, Kingsley Chinda, and other political leaders.