Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, has dismissed reports suggesting that he is seeking the position of Director-General of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Presidential Campaign Council ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Wike, while rejecting the claim, reaffirmed his commitment to President Bola Tinubu’s bid for a second term, stressing that holding a position in the campaign council was not necessary for him to contribute to the President’s electoral success.

The reports had named the FCT minister among senior APC figures and government officials allegedly interested in the campaign council’s top position or being considered for the role.

Wike, however, described the reports as untrue.

In a statement issued on Monday by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka, the minister said he had neither lobbied for the position nor held discussions with anyone regarding membership or leadership of the proposed campaign council.

Explaining his current activities, Wike said he was outside the country taking a break after an extensive period of official engagements in the FCT.

“I am outside Nigeria, resting and relaxing after spending over 30 days, commissioning projects, flagging off new ones and inspecting ongoing ones, especially those scheduled for commissioning in December and January, next year.

“When I return, our focus will be the continuous delivery of our mandate in line with the President’s Renewed Hope Agenda and to further enhance his electoral fortune in Rivers State and the FCT.

“Therefore, I do not need to be the DG or even member of the Presidential Campaign Council of Mr President’s political party to contribute my quota by ensuring that he wins handsomely in Rivers State and the FCT,” the statement read.

Both sides accused the other of attempting to manipulate security and electoral institutions ahead of the August 15 poll.

TICC in separate statements by Bamidele Salam, Chairman, Media and Publicity Committee and Pelumi Olajengbesi, spokesperson, rejected the APC’s allegation that Adeleke was planning to blackmail the Nigeria Police Force through a protest by hired women, describing the claim as unfounded.

The campaign council alleged that the APC had used the police to intimidate and harass political opponents during the election period. It further claimed that at least six of its members had been killed and several others injured during political violence.

“It is nothing but mischief for the APC that has unleashed unimaginable violence on Osun people, killing no fewer than six of our members, to turn around to blame the victim,” TICC said.

The council also alleged that more than 60 Accord Party members had been arrested by the police without justification, while accusing the security agency of treating APC members involved in alleged violence differently.

TICC claimed that “some Accord members had been arrested from their homes and alleged that security personnel had escorted suspected political thugs.”

It cited a viral video which it said appeared to show a police operative handing a firearm to a political thug in Ilesa.

The campaign council called on Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, to intervene and ensure what it described as fair and neutral policing before the election.

“We totally reject the overt attempt by the Police to influence the August 15 governorship poll through coercion and unlawful arrests of Accord leaders and members,” the council said.

Separately, TICC alleged that the APC was pressuring the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to end voting by 12pm in selected local government areas during Saturday’s election.

According to the campaign council, the alleged plan targeted areas considered political strongholds of Adeleke, with the aim of suppressing votes and disenfranchising eligible voters.

“We therefore call on INEC to resist every form of political pressure and strictly adhere to its established voting procedures and timelines,” TICC spokesman Pelumi Olajengbesi said.

The council urged INEC to ensure that no polling unit was arbitrarily closed while eligible voters who arrived within the stipulated voting period were waiting to vote. It also called on election observers, civil society organisations, international bodies and the media to monitor the process.

The APC, however, dismissed the allegations against it and accused Adeleke and the Accord Party of attempting to blackmail the police through a planned protest involving vulnerable women.

The APC campaign council in a statement by Engr Oluremi Omowaiye
Head, Media and Publicity Committee, alleged that some women had been recruited to protest at the Osun State Police Command headquarters in Osogbo, claiming some had been instructed to protest half-naked.

“Intelligence available to us reveals a preplanned, highly provocative plot to hire vulnerable women—some of whom have been instructed to protest half-naked—and march them to the State Police Command Headquarters in Osogbo,” the APC said.

The APC maintained that the police were investigating individuals suspected of involvement in electoral violence and urged security agencies to remain professional ahead of the election.

It also called on its supporters to remain calm and law-abiding as Osun voters prepare to cast their ballots on August 15.

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Joe Igbokwe, has criticised Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, for defecting from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to the Accord Party ahead of the governorship election.

Igbokwe described Adeleke’s decision as an “unbelievable mistake,” arguing that the governor should have joined the ruling APC, particularly given President Bola Tinubu’s family ties to Osun State.

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