Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has expressed his opposition to Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma's reported ambition to become President of the Senate after the 2027 elections. Wike made this declaration during a television appearance, citing his growing disagreement with Uzodimma and other All Progressives Congress governors over the proposed Rainbow Coalition. Wike's opposition to Uzodimma's ambition is linked to attempts by some APC governors to influence the next leadership of the National Assembly.
According to Wike, some APC governors are trying to dictate who will become the next Senate President or Speaker of the House of Representatives. He specifically accused Uzodimma, who chairs the Progressive Governors' Forum, of pursuing the Senate presidency after his tenure as Imo governor ends. Wike stated that he will never support Uzodimma's bid for the Senate presidency. Uzodimma's office will expire in January 2028, and he is reportedly planning to run for the Senate.
Wike also revealed that politicians who lost out in the APC's nomination process could seek alternative platforms to contest the 2027 elections, potentially producing lawmakers outside the control of the governors. However, he insisted that his Rainbow Coalition is not an attempt to undermine the APC, but rather to support President Bola Tinubu's re-election in 2027. Members of the coalition should be free to support Tinubu for president while backing candidates of their choice in other contests.
Wike has been encouraging his supporters to vote for Tinubu despite remaining a member of the Peoples Democratic Party. He questioned how voters would differentiate among the three ballot papers on election day, but noted that he is telling his people to vote for Tinubu. This statement deepens the public disagreement between Wike and Uzodimma, who has opposed political arrangements that could affect the APC and its candidates ahead of the 2027 elections.
Wike also revealed how the G-5 governors strategically worked against the presidential ambition of the Peoples Democratic Party candidate, Atiku Abubakar, in the South-South during the 2023 election. The G-5 identified Atiku and the strength of the PDP in the region as a major concern and decided to allow Labour Party candidate Peter Obi to win some states. This strategy was adopted in Edo and Cross River, where the PDP was considered strong, to prevent Atiku from benefiting from the votes.
The G-5 governors, comprising Seyi Makinde of Oyo, Samuel Ortom of Benue, Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia, Nyesom Wike of Rivers, and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu, opposed Atiku Abubakar's presidential candidacy in 2023. They argued that the party's presidential ticket should be zoned to the South after eight years of a northern presidency under Muhammadu Buhari. Wike questioned Obi's ability to replicate his 2023 performance in the region ahead of the 2027 presidential election, particularly in Cross River, Akwa Ibom, and Delta states.
Wike advised Obi to focus on the 2031 election rather than the 2027 contest, saying that Obi should leave the 2027 election for Tinubu. Wike noted that the political circumstances that helped Obi in 2023 have changed, particularly the controversy surrounding the Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket, which no longer has the same influence. According to Wike, Obi does not have the same level of support in the South-East as he did in 2023.
Key points
- Wike opposes Uzodimma's Senate presidency bid
- Wike's Rainbow Coalition aims to support Tinubu's re-election
- Wike questions Obi's chances in 2027 presidential election
