The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, has cautioned political actors in Rivers State against deploying public funds to influence the 2027 general elections, warning that such actions will not guarantee party tickets or electoral success.
Wike issued the warning on Saturday while addressing residents of Okrika during a thank-you visit to local government areas in the state, amid the lingering political tension involving Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
Without mentioning the governor by name, the former Rivers governor said no individual would be allowed to use state resources to “hire voters” from any part of the country ahead of the next election cycle.
He warned that politicians who recently aligned with President Bola Tinubu and adopted the popular campaign slogan, “On Your Mandate We Shall Stand,” should not assume it would automatically translate into re-election tickets in 2027.
According to Wike, loyalty slogans alone would not secure political advantage, stressing that performance, character and credibility would determine electoral outcomes.
“We started shouting ‘On Your Mandate’ in 2023 and we will continue, but joining the chant does not give anyone an automatic ticket,” he said.
Wike also criticised past political decisions in the state, describing them as costly mistakes, but insisted that lessons had been learnt ahead of 2027.
“If you like take our money and bring people from the North, South, East or West, it won’t work,” he said, adding that Rivers people suffered in 2023 despite massive mobilisation.
The FCT minister further urged residents to vote for candidates with proven character, saying President Tinubu had honoured agreements reached during the last election cycle.
“Mr President has kept his own part of the agreement. That is why you must vote for people of character, people you can trust and sleep with your two eyes closed,” Wike stated.
He assured supporters that political errors made in the past would be corrected, declaring that the emerging political alignment in the state transcends party lines under what he described as the “Renewed Hope family.”
