Wike Vows to Back Only Pro-Tinubu Candidates Ahead of 2026 FCT Area Council Poll

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has declared that he will support only candidates who align with the political agenda of President Bola Tinubu in the forthcoming 2026 FCT Area Council elections.

Wike made the statement on Saturday in Abuja during the 60th birthday celebration of Senator Sandy Onor, describing his position as a responsibility he owes to the President.

In a statement released on Sunday by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka, the minister said he would back any candidate, irrespective of party affiliation, as long as they support Tinubu’s administration. He added that he would equally oppose candidates who do not share that stance.

“We have the FCT Area Council election coming up on February 21, and I have a duty to support any candidate who supports President Tinubu to win,” Wike was quoted as saying. “It is also my duty to ensure that any candidate who is not supporting Tinubu does not win in the election, and I owe no apology for my stand.”

The 2026 FCT Area Council elections are scheduled for Saturday, February 21, with voting expected to commence at 8:30 a.m. across designated polling units.

According to the Independent National Electoral Commission, about 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, as well as 62 councillors representing 68 constituencies.

The commission has confirmed that the IReV portal will be deployed for real-time public viewing of election results to promote transparency.

Major political parties, including the All Progressives Congress, the Peoples Democratic Party, and the African Democratic Congress, have fielded candidates for the poll.

To ensure security, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps has deployed about 4,000 personnel across the Federal Capital Territory.

Meanwhile, a Federal High Court recently barred the Labour Party from participating in the election over alleged irregularities in its nomination process.