Politics no longer about becoming governor from fourth position – Wike replies Uzodinma
Wike Challenges Uzodinma Over Rainbow Coalition Controversy
Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory and former governor of Rivers State, has intensified his criticism of Imo State Governor Hope Uzodinma amid ongoing disputes regarding the alliances of the Rainbow Coalition.
In a statement released by his spokesperson, Lere Olayinka, Wike remarked that the dynamics of Nigerian politics have evolved past the point where a candidate could ascend to the governorship from a fourth-place finish. His remarks were perceived as a pointed reference to Uzodinma.
This latest exchange follows a meeting among governors from the All Progressives Congress (APC), convened by Uzodinma, during which they expressed their disapproval of Wike’s Rainbow Coalition. The gathering underscored existing tensions between Wike and Uzodinma, especially with the 2027 presidential election on the horizon.
In response to the APC governors’ position, Wike asserted that the Rainbow Coalition is independent of the APC. He challenged the governors to focus on resolving local issues instead of leveraging the re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for political gain. “Politics is local,” Wike stated, emphasizing the need for governance solutions within individual states.
Wike reaffirmed his commitment to mobilizing support for President Tinubu’s re-election but clarified that he never guaranteed that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) would refrain from fielding candidates in future elections for governorship, National Assembly, and State House of Assembly positions.
He questioned the electoral dynamics in Imo State, where he noted that the APC secured two Senate seats in the 2023 elections, despite receiving less than 15 percent of the presidential votes. Wike asked how the Rainbow Coalition could be credited for the APC’s performance in that context. He expressed confidence that voters would make informed choices in the 2027 elections if all parties genuinely support the president’s return to office.
Wike concluded by stating that the Rainbow Coalition aims to generate cross-party support for President Tinubu, whom he believes has earned a second term.
