2027: Wike urges traditional rulers, stakeholders to support Aduda for FCT senate
By Sadiq Abubakar, Abuja
The Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has cautioned traditional rulers and stakeholders against repeating what he called their “mistake” in the 2023 elections, urging them to support experienced Senator Philip Aduda for re-election to secure a strong voice in the National Assembly during the 2027 general election.
Wike, gave the warning when he received the Abuja FCT Stakeholders’ Assembly, led by the Ona of Abaji and Chairman of the FCT Council of Chiefs, HRM Adamu Yunusa, in his office in Abuja, on Thursday.
Our correspondent report that Wike was also conffered with the traditional title of “Hasken Abuja,” meaning ‘The Light of Abuja’ in recognition of his infrastructure strides and support for traditional institutions.
The indigenes expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu’s administration and requested for development, but Wike quickly pushed towards electoral strategy, emphasising the need for Senate representation with clout.
“You made a mistake last time, you elected a Senator you can’t see. A Senator, who cannot go to traditional rulers to talk. A Senator, who cannot even organise the indigenous community to talk or to ask them what their needs are.
“Now you have come to me to ask for your needs. But if I have a Senator I can relate to, it makes it easier,” he stated. He endorsed Aduda, citing his prior role as Senate Minority Leader and 14 years of experience. “Aduda has been in the Senate. He was the Senate Minority Leader. Now, if he goes back to the Senate, he carries an experience and he’s ranking. So, when he’s talking, his colleagues will listen to him.
“It has nothing to do with religion. I’m just telling you the simple truth. There’s somebody that will go there and cannot say anything because they will ask you, who are you? From where?” he said.
Wike also dismissed challengers, including a newly elected council chairman eyeing the Senate seat, saying, “I’ve seen one of your boys saying he wants to go to the Senate. He was just elected a council chairman yesterday. He has not been sworn in. He will be sworn-in in June. At the same time, he wants to go to the Senate. Who will he talk to?
“You cannot exchange somebody who has had experience in the National Assembly for over 14 years with somebody who has not completed a second term in office as local council chairman and then you say you are playing politics. If you play politics with that kind of thing, it will consume you and you cannot come back to me to say, you want help me,’the minister cautioned.
