I’ll never support Uzodimma for Senate President – Wike

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Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has said he will not support Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma’s reported ambition to become President of the Senate after the 2027 elections.

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Wike made the declaration on Monday during an appearance on TVC’s Journalists’ Hangout, amid his growing disagreement with Uzodimma and other All Progressives Congress governors over his proposed Rainbow Coalition.

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According to Wike, the opposition of some All Progressives Congress governors to his Rainbow Coalition is linked to attempts to influence the next leadership of the National Assembly.

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

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He specifically accused Uzodimma, who chairs the Progressive Governors’ Forum, of pursuing the Senate presidency after his tenure as Imo governor ends.

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“This man’s office will expire in January 2028. Now, he wants to leave his office to run for Senate. I will never support a character of Hope Uzodimma to be Senate President of Nigeria,” Wike said.

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Wike said politicians who had 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.

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The minister, however, insisted that his Rainbow Coalition was not an attempt to undermine the APC, saying its primary objective was to support President Bola Tinubu’s re-election in 2027.

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He said members of the coalition should be free to support Tinubu for president while backing candidates of their choice in other contests.

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Wike also said he had been encouraging his supporters to vote for Tinubu despite remaining a member of the Peoples Democratic Party.

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“It is me, who is telling my own people to vote for President Tinubu of the APC that should be talking about voters being confused on the day of election as to how to differentiate among the three ballot papers, not people in the APC,” he said.

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The latest comments deepen the public disagreement between Wike and Uzodimma, who has opposed political arrangements that he believes could affect the APC and its candidates ahead of the 2027 elections.

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