Nigeria's Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has expressed his opposition to Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State becoming the Senate President in 2027. In a recent television appearance, Mr. Wike stated that he would never support Mr. Uzodimma's bid for the position. This declaration comes as Mr. Uzodimma is said to be eyeing the Senate President position, despite his tenure as governor set to expire in January 2028.
According to Mr. Wike, Mr. Uzodimma's opposition to his Rainbow Coalition Movement is driven by the governor's ambition to become Senate President. The Rainbow Coalition is a multi-party arrangement aimed at supporting President Tinubu's re-election bid in 2027. However, the Progressives Governors Forum (PGF), chaired by Mr. Uzodimma, has described the coalition as a threat to the party and its candidates.
Mr. Wike accused Mr. Uzodimma of using his position to advance his personal interests and ambitions. He alleged that some governors who lost out in the APC's nomination process have found alternative platforms to contest the 2027 elections. Mr. Wike suggested that Mr. Uzodimma knows that if these governors run and win, they will not support his bid for Senate President.
Mr. Wike further alleged that Mr. Uzodimma plans to become Senate President by convincing other governors to nominate loyal senatorial and House of Representatives candidates. This strategy, according to Mr. Wike, is aimed at securing the support of other governors to become Senate President. He questioned Mr. Uzodimma's political strength, recalling how he became governor after taking fourth position in the 2019 governorship election in Imo State.
Mr. Uzodimma became governor of Imo State in 2020 after the Supreme Court nullified the election of the then-Governor Emeka Ihedioha of the PDP. He declared Mr. Uzodimma, who came fourth in the 2019 election, as the validly elected governor of the state. Mr. Uzodimma's second term in office will elapse by January 2028, and the next Senate is expected to be inaugurated in June 2027.
There have been claims that Mr. Uzodimma had perfected plans to resign his position as governor before his expiration of tenure to pursue his senatorial ambition. However, his deputy, Chinyere Ekomaru, refuted claims that she had resigned from her position, describing them as false and misleading. The deputy governor's office stated that she continues to serve the state in her capacity as deputy governor.
The rift between Mr. Wike and Mr. Uzodimma appears to be driven by their differing interests and ambitions. While Mr. Wike is focused on supporting President Tinubu's re-election bid, Mr. Uzodimma is said to be banking on the President's support to secure the Senate President position. The developments are likely to have implications for the APC and the country's political landscape ahead of the 2027 elections.
Key points
- Wike vows to never support Uzodimma as Senate President
- Uzodimma's ambition driven by personal interests
- Wike and Uzodimma have differing interests and ambitions
