Wike draws battle line with Gov Uzodinma, vows to oppose Senate presidency ambition

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, seems to have drawn a battle line with governors under the platform of the ruling party the All Progressives Congress (APC) under the aegis of Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF).

In particular, he has declared his intention to oppose the ambition of the PGF chairman and Imo State governor, Hope Uzodimma, in the reported quest to become President of the Senate.

Wike made the declaration on Monday during an appearance on TVC’s Journalists’ Hangout in Abuja, while reacting to the opposition by some APC governors to the proposed Rainbow Coalition ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The minister alleged that the resistance to the coalition by some APC governors was connected to their desire to influence the emergence of National Assembly leaders after the 2027 elections.

According to him, some governors were interested in producing senators and House of Representatives members who would later support their preferred candidates for leadership positions in the National Assembly.

“APC, in their ongoing party primaries, the governors, in their own wisdom, believe that they should be able to put senators or House of Representatives members who they will dictate to on who will become the next Senate President or Speaker,” Wike alleged.

He specifically linked the development to Uzodinma’s reported ambition to become Senate President after leaving office as governor, insisting that his opposition was based on political considerations and not personal differences.

“I will never support a character like Hope Uzodimma to be Senate President of Nigeria. Everybody knows that,” Wike said.

The FCT minister explained that the fear among some politicians was that candidates denied tickets by the APC could seek alternative platforms, win elections and later refuse to support a preferred candidate for National Assembly leadership.

“The fear now is that if they run and they win, it means they are not going to support him to be the Senate President,” he said.

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Wike maintained that his support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election bid was separate from contests for governorship, Senate, House of Representatives and State Assembly seats.

He recalled that the G5 governors in 2023 supported Tinubu’s presidential ambition while retaining their candidates for other elective positions under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

“In 2023, the G5 leadership said we were going to support Mr President. But we never said that all our candidates in other elections will fail,” Wike said.

He added that while Tinubu won Rivers State in the presidential election, PDP candidates also won several legislative and state positions in the state.

Wike argued that Nigerian voters had demonstrated the ability to vote differently at different levels, insisting that there was nothing unusual about politicians supporting a presidential candidate while remaining in their parties for other elections.

“Who will be more confused? Is it not my candidates that will even be more confused when I tell them to support Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and then they go back to support other candidates?” he asked.

The minister dismissed claims that the Rainbow Coalition was designed to weaken the APC, saying the initiative was aimed at mobilising support for Tinubu’s re-election.

He also rejected allegations that President Tinubu had agreed to concede nine states to him or the coalition ahead of the 2027 elections.

Wike challenged those making the claim to identify the states involved, insisting that Nigerians should be presented with facts rather than speculation.

“Which are those nine states? Tell us that they said the President agreed with me that he is conceding nine states,” he said.

The former Rivers State governor said his role was to promote what he described as the achievements of the Tinubu administration and mobilise support for the President based on his record in office.

“Mr President is showing his report card. We are telling Nigerians what he has been doing and why he should be re-elected,” Wike said.

He cited issues such as the Federal Government’s support for state police and other reforms as examples of policies he would highlight while campaigning for Tinubu’s second term.

Wike’s comments come amid growing disagreements between him and some APC governors over the Rainbow Coalition, with the PGF insisting that its members will support Tinubu and APC candidates in the 2027 elections.

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