Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has declared that he will not support Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma, for the position of Senate President in 2027, accusing the governor of pursuing a personal political agenda.
Wike made the declaration during an appearance on TVC News’ Journalists’ Hangout on Monday, amid the growing political tension between him and APC governors over the Rainbow Coalition ahead of the 2027 elections.
The former Rivers State governor said some politicians who were denied tickets by the APC had turned to alternative platforms to contest the 2027 elections, arguing that their emergence could affect Uzodinma’s ambition to become Senate President.
“Now, the other people who they have removed and not given ticket have found an alternative to run. And he knows that if they run and they win, it means that they are not going to support him as the Senate President and that knowing fully well that they are running under Wike’s support of PDP, they will not support them.
“Of course, life or death, I will never support Hope Uzodinma to become the Senate President of Nigeria. Everybody knows that. Nobody should ask me questions about it, it is not personal,” Wike said.
Wike also accused Uzodinma, who chairs the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF), of creating political problems within the APC without having the capacity to resolve them.
“You cause internal problem for yourself and you do not have the capacity to solve the problem and all you do is to resort to blackmail,” he said.
He further questioned Uzodinma’s political journey, recalling how the Imo governor emerged from what he described as an unexpected position in the governorship contest.
“Hope Uzodinma, who I’ve always said and I tell people. Maybe, to God be the glory, he became a governor by taking 4th position. To the glory of God, he became a governor and that is how this country will open her eyes and say what is going on,” Wike said.
According to Wike, Uzodinma’s second term as governor is approaching its end, with the Imo governor now seeking election to the Senate in 2027 and allegedly positioning himself for the Senate presidency.
“He wants to run for Senate president, and what he does is to say to his colleagues, let us be the ones (governors) who will produce the senators and members of the House of reps and some of the senators.
“Of course, some of the governors are not experienced. So they buy it, thinking that he is trying to make them powerful. Not knowing that he has his own interest and agenda to become Senate President,” he said.
Wike alleged that politicians who were denied tickets by APC leaders or their respective governors had subsequently sought alternative platforms, including the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), with backing from his political structure.
He maintained that if such candidates win their elections, they would not be under any obligation to support Uzodinma’s bid to lead the Senate.
The latest confrontation comes amid the widening dispute over Wike’s Rainbow Coalition, a political arrangement involving politicians across party lines.
Wike has maintained that the coalition is primarily focused on mobilising support for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election and is not an APC structure. He has also insisted that the PDP remains free to field candidates for governorship, National Assembly and State Assembly elections.
The position has, however, put Wike at odds with APC governors under the Progressive Governors Forum, who have opposed political arrangements they believe could weaken the party or affect its candidates ahead of the 2027 elections.
