Author: Gist Newspaper

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has declared that only candidates loyal to President Bola Tinubu will enjoy his support and emerge victorious in the forthcoming FCT Area Council elections slated for February 21, 2026.

Wike’s declaration, which has stirred political reactions within and beyond the nation’s capital, signals a hard line ahead of the grassroots polls that will determine leadership across the six area councils of the FCT.

Speaking on the elections, the minister said his political backing would be extended solely to candidates who support President Tinubu’s leadership and political agenda, irrespective of party affiliation.

According to him, loyalty to the President remains the decisive factor in determining who gets his endorsement in the polls.

“We have the FCT Area Council election coming up on February 21, and I have a duty to support any candidate that supports President Tinubu to win,” Wike said.

He added that he would also actively oppose the emergence of candidates who do not align with the President, insisting that he owes no apology for such a stance.

Wike’s comments underline his growing role as a key political power broker in the FCT, where he oversees administrative structures and commands significant political influence.

The FCT Area Councils—Abuja Municipal, Gwagwalada, Kuje, Bwari, Abaji and Kwali—are responsible for grassroots governance, including primary infrastructure, sanitation and community services, making the elections critical to local administration in the nation’s capital.