I will never support Uzodimma for Senate President – Wike vows
Wike Declares Opposition to Uzodimma’s Senate Aspirations
PORT HARCOURT, Nigeria — Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, announced on Thursday that he will not support Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma in his bid for the Senate presidency. Wike made the statement during a press conference with select journalists in Port Harcourt, the capital of Rivers State.
The political tensions between Wike and Uzodimma have been building, with Wike attributing the conflict to Uzodimma’s leadership role as chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum, which he claims has opposed Wike’s Rainbow Coalition. The coalition aims to gather support for President Bola Tinubu in the upcoming 2027 elections while maintaining affiliations with candidates from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Wike recounted his earlier support for Uzodimma, stating, “When you see Hope Uzodimma, ask him, when he was going for a second term, did I support him or not? I supported Uzodimma against the PDP candidate who was my national secretary, Sam Anyanwu.” He expressed confidence in the sustainability of the Rainbow Coalition, emphasizing, “There is nothing anybody can do about it.”
Wike further accused Uzodimma of prioritizing his ambition for the Senate presidency over his current governorship, stating, “This man’s office will expire in January 2028. Now, he wants to leave his office to run for the Senate. I will never support the character of Hope Uzodimma to be Senate President of Nigeria.”
