{
  "id": 2602922,
  "title": "I won’t risk losing Rivers, FCT for APC presidential campaign DG job — Wike",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/22/i-wont-risk-losing-rivers-fct-for-apc-presidential-campaign-dg-job",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-22T16:03:53.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Punch Nigeria",
    "slug": "punch-nigeria",
    "url": "https://punchng.com/i-wont-risk-losing-rivers-fct-for-apc-presidential-campaign-dg-job-wike/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, has explained why he would not have served as the Director-General of President Bola Tinubu's 2027 Presidential Campaign Council. Wike, who is not a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), stated that he does not wish to risk losing his two states, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and Rivers State. He pointed to previous campaign Directors-General who lost their states while serving in the roles, including the 2015 Minister of Transport who was the governor of Rivers State and was replaced after losing more than 25 percent of the vote. Similarly, in 2019, the APC's Director-General for Atiku's campaign lost his state, and in 2023, the APC's Director-General for Tinubu's campaign also lost his state. Wike emphasized that his priority is to deliver the FCT and Rivers State, rather than hold a campaign position. He also cited his non-membership in the APC as another reason he could not have headed the council, stating that he would continue to support Tinubu's re-election through a cross-party \"Rainbow Coalition\" involving politicians in their respective states.",
  "summary": "FCT Minister Nyesom Wike explains why he won’t be APC presidential campaign DG, citing non-membership and the risk of losing Rivers and FCT. Read More: https://punchng.com/i-wont-risk-losing-rivers-fct-for-apc-presidential-campaign-dg-job-wike/",
  "key_points": [
    "Wike declines DG role to avoid losing FCT and Rivers State",
    "Past campaign DGGs lost states in 2015, 2019, 2023",
    "Wike prioritizes FCT and Rivers State over campaign position"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Punch",
        "title": "I won’t risk losing Rivers, FCT for APC presidential campaign DG job — Wike",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/22/i-wont-risk-losing-rivers-fct-for-apc-presidential-campaign-dg-job-2606844",
        "published": "2026-08-22T16:03:53.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}