Real reason I support Tinubu —Wike

Former River State Governor Nyesom Wike has explained his reasons for supporting President Bola Tinubu in the 2023 presidential election and his continued backing for Tinubu in the 2027 re-election bid. Speaking on Arise TV’s Prime Time, Wike stated that his support for Tinubu was rooted in his belief that the presidency should alternate between the South and the North, given that the North had held the presidency for the last eight years under late President Muhammadu Buhari.

Wike emphasized that this conviction was made clear from the outset and that he had never hidden his decision to support Tinubu. He further affirmed that only Tinubu could question his political decisions and dismissed any criticism from others, stating that the only person who could challenge him was the President himself. Wike clarified that his support for Tinubu was specifically for his presidential bid and did not entail backing APC candidates in governorship or legislative elections.

He maintained that his political activities were separate from the APC coalition and that he had never aligned with the party in the Governors’ Forum. Wike also noted that there was no contradiction between his support for Tinubu and his continued membership in the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), as his decision to back the APC candidate was based on trustworthiness and background.

He stressed that the Rainbow Coalition focused on supporting Tinubu at the presidential level while allowing political parties to pursue their interests in other elections.