Politics no longer about becoming governor from fourth position – Wike replies Uzodinma

Former Rivers State governor and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has responded to the Imo State governor, Hope Uzodinma, over controversy surrounding the Rainbow Coalition’s alliances. Wike's statement, as conveyed by his spokesperson Lere Olayinka, seemed to be a direct response to Uzodinma, suggesting that Nigeria's politics have moved beyond the notion of becoming a governor from the fourth position.

Recall that governors who were elected under the All Progressives Congress (APC) confronted Wike's Rainbow Coalition following a meeting chaired by Uzodinma. The gatherings led to the indirect distancing of the APC governors from Wike's coalition. This development has heightened the rift between Wike and Uzodinma as they prepare for the 2027 presidential election.

In reaction to the stance of the APC governors, Wike clarified that the Rainbow Coalition had no connection with the All Progressives Congress (APC). He challenged the APC governors, particularly Uzodinma, stating that politics is local and those facing issues in their states should address them instead of exploiting the re-election of the President to generate sentiment.

Wike emphasized that he had consistently advocated for supporting the re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, but he did not promise anyone that PDP loyalists to him would not contest in governorship, National Assembly, and State House of Assembly elections.

He pointed out that in Imo State under Uzodinma's leadership, APC won two senate seats in the 2023 election, which was held simultaneously with the presidential election. Wike questioned whether the Rainbow Coalition played a role in this or if the voters were confused. He further argued that the Rainbow Coalition's presence did not cause APC to win National Assembly elections in Ebonyi, Abia, and Enugu States, where the President did not garner ten percent of the votes.

Wike questioned whether the voters in Imo, Abia, Enugu, and Ebonyi would have been confused in 2027 if they had voted APC in the senatorial election and another party in the presidential election. He asked if voters would be confused in 2027 if they supported the President genuinely this time. He concluded by stating that after the President’s re-election, they could all face elections in their states.

Wike reiterated that his stance is to mobilize support for the re-election of the President. He clarified that he never promised anyone that the PDP would not contest in governorship, National Assembly, and State House of Assembly elections. Importantly, Wike stressed that the Rainbow Coalition has no connection with the APC. Instead, he described it as their own method of mobilizing support across political parties for Mr. President, who has performed well and deserves a second term.