The Digest:
President Bola Tinubu has commended FCT Minister Nyesom Wike for his "remarkable achievements" in the territory, which he said yielded political dividends for the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Saturday's council elections. In a statement by presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu congratulated winners of elections in the FCT, Kano, and Rivers, urging them to "serve with humility, patriotism, and dedication." The APC secured four of six FCT chairmanship seats (AMAC, Bwari, Kwali, Abaji), while the PDP won Gwagwalada. Tinubu also congratulated the APC national leadership and party members on the victories, and lauded INEC, security agencies, and voters for the "peaceful and successful conduct" of the polls. He called on INEC to continue improving electoral processes. Wike, a PDP member appointed as FCT minister, has faced criticism within his party for working with the APC-led administration.
Key Points:
- Tinubu's praise publicly validates Wike's cross-party political strategy.
- It reinforces Wike's position within the APC administration despite PDP membership.
- Wike gains presidential backing, while PDP critics see their concerns confirmed.
- This signals that performance in the office trumps party loyalty for the president.
- The timing, after APC's FCT sweep, strengthens Wike's political capital.
Sources: The Cable, Presidency/Bayo Onanuga
