“Life or death, I will not support Hope Uzodimma to be the Senate President of Nigeria”—Wike Draws Battle Line, Attacks AbdulRazaq
In a fiery television appearance, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike has launched a blistering attack on Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma and Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, alleging the Imo State Governor is pursuing a personal agenda, while accusing the Kwara State Governor of orchestrating a smear campaign against him.
Speaking on TVC’s Journalists Hangout, Wike pulled no punches as he addressed ongoing friction within the political landscape, particularly focusing on Uzodimma’s alleged ambitions for the Senate Presidency and AbdulRazaq’s administrative decisions affecting the FCT.
‘I Will Never Support Uzodimma’
Wike openly questioned the ambitions of Governor Hope Uzodimma.
The FCT Minister claimed that Uzodimma is actively clearing out experienced lawmakers in his state to clear a path for his own ambition to lead the National Assembly even before his tenure expires in February 2028.
According to Wike, Uzodimma is manipulating fellow governors into replacing seasoned lawmakers with loyalists, under the guise of making the governors more powerful.
“Some of these senators and governors are not experienced. They buy into it, thinking it makes them powerful, not knowing he has his own agenda to become Senate President,” Wike revealed.
Wike further noted that the displaced lawmakers have found alternative platforms to run, creating panic for the Imo Governor. He vowed never to back Uzodimma’s leadership ambitions: “Life or death, I will not support a character like Hope Uzodimma to be the Senate President of Nigeria. Everybody knows that.”
Kwara Governor Labeled ‘Timid’ Amid FCT Fund Row
Turning his attention to the North Central, Wike slammed Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, describing him as “very timid” and accusing him of dragging him into personal local rivalries involving former Senate President Bukola Saraki.
“You have a problem with Saraki; go and fight with Saraki. Why fall into the trap? I have fought with Saraki; he knows. You want me to go and fight Saraki for what?” Wike questioned.
Wike alleged that the Kwara Governor has weaponized his influence, extending the political battle to the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) by withholding funds due to the FCT. However, Wike maintained that the financial maneuvers would not hinder his work in Abuja.
’Face Your Problems’
The former Rivers State Governor mocked AbdulRazaq’s political strategy, pointing out that the governor single-handedly dropped three senators and all House of Representatives members from his camp, a move Wike described as political suicide.
“Which politician does that? You must be a super politician to survive that,” Wike mocked. “So face your problem. Why are you calling my name simply because people chose to run under the PDP and you claim I’m the one?”
Wike also dismissed labels from his detractors who now call him a “national leader,” reminding viewers that the very politicians crying foul were the ones who heavily opposed him in past political battles.
Why Wike Is Throwing Punches
Wikes’ outburst follows last week’s meeting of the Progressive Governors Forum (PGD) led by Governor Hope Uzodimma, which also had the chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum, Abdulrazak, in attendance.
After the meeting, Uzodimma, who read the communique, presented the resolutions expressly rejecting support for any candidate not sponsored by the APC.
KlickNews has reported that Uzodimma made the party’s stance on political coalitions unequivocal, stating that the APC will exclusively back its own candidates.
“The forum unanimously resolved that its members will not participate in, support, or endorse any alliance or political arrangement capable of undermining the reelection of Mr. President, weakening the APC, or adversely affecting any candidate of the party at all levels,” Uzodimma stated.
He further reasserted, “In other words, the Forum has no intention to support any candidate at any level that is not an APC candidate, because the election and our candidates are a standing election as being sponsored by our party.”
The PGF emphasized that its campaign loyalty remains undivided, adding that “no arrangements that create confusion, divided loyalty, or competing interests within the party will be entertained.”
The position of the APC Governors was perceived as an attack on Wike’s so-called Rainbow Coalition, where he is leading a broad-based bipartisan mobilisation for candidates of the PDP and the APC with a stated objective of advancing President Tinubu’s reelection.
