Wike Says He Will Never Support Uzodimma for Senate President

Nigeria’s Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Nyesom Wike has made it clear that he will not support Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State to become the Senate President in 2027.

Wike shared this on Monday night during an appearance on TVC News’ Journalists’ Hangout, which was seen by PREMIUM TIMES.
“Of course, life or death, I will never support Hope Uzodinma to become the Senate President of Nigeria. Everybody knows that,” he said.

The FCT minister believes Uzodimma is against his Rainbow Coalition Movement because the governor thinks it will hurt his chances of becoming Senate president.

Wike leads the Rainbow Coalition, which is a political alliance to back President Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) governors are against the coalition. They call it a political setup that could weaken the party and its candidates before the 2027 elections.

The Progressives Governors Forum (PGF) is chaired by Uzodimma, who has secured the APC’s ticket for Imo West District. His governorship term will end in January 2028, six months after the next Senate is set to begin in June 2027.

On the TV show, Wike accused Uzodimma of using his office for his personal political goals.
He noted that other governors who did not get tickets in the APC have found other ways to run for the 2027 elections.

“Now, the other people who they have removed and not given tickets have found an alternative to run. And he (Uzodimma) knows that if they run and they win, it means that they are not going to support him to be the Senate President and that knowing fully well that they are running under Wike’s support of PDP, they will not support them,” he said.

Wike claimed Uzodimma has a plan to become Senate President by persuading other governors to choose loyal candidates for the Senate and House of Representatives.
“He (Uzodimma) 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 Representatives and some of the Senators.

“Of course, some of the governors are not experienced. So they will 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 questioned Uzodimma’s political strength. He reminded everyone how Uzodimma became governor after finishing fourth in the 2019 governorship election in Imo State.
“Hope Uzodinma. Maybe, to God be the glory, he became a governor by taking fourth 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,” he said.

Uzodimma took over as governor of Imo State in 2020 when the Supreme Court nullified the election of then-Governor Emeka Ihedioha of the PDP. Uzodimma was declared the validly elected governor, even though he finished fourth in the 2019 election.

His second term will end in January 2028. The next Senate will start in June 2027.

Previously, Uzodimma served as the senator for Imo West from June 6, 2011, to June 9, 2019.
In April, various sources said Uzodimma was planning to resign as governor before his term ends to chase his Senate ambition.

They claimed he had made an agreement with his deputy, Chinyere Ekomaru, to resign her position. This would allow for a new deputy governor to be appointed.

The new deputy would act as a “placeholder governor” if Uzodimma resigns to run for Senate.
“The governor is actually fighting to be the Senate President. He’s banking on Tinubu to help secure the (Senate President) position,” one source stated.

But Ekomaru’s office denied in early May that she had resigned, calling the claims false and misleading.
“This claim, as at this moment and the time it was trended, is entirely untrue and should be disregarded in its entirety,” the statement said. They hinted that the resignation could still happen soon.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the Deputy Governor of Imo State, Chinyere Ekomaru, is currently engaged in official duties as the number two citizen of this great state and continues to serve the state in her capacity as deputy governor,” the statement added.