Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has said he will not support Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma’s reported ambition to become Nigeria’s next Senate President.
Wike made the statement on Monday during an appearance on TVC’s Journalists’ Hangout, amid an ongoing political disagreement between him and the governor.
“This man’s office will expire in January 2028. Now, he wants to leave his office to run for Senate. I will never support a character of Hope Uzodimma to be Senate President of Nigeria,” Wike said.
The FCT minister also alleged that Uzodimma was attempting to influence the emergence of senators and members of the House of Representatives who would support his reported ambition to lead the Senate.
Wike said some politicians who were denied tickets by the All Progressives Congress had found alternative platforms to contest the 2027 elections, arguing that such lawmakers might not support Uzodimma’s reported bid if elected.
The comments came amid an ongoing disagreement between Wike and the Progressive Governors Forum, which is chaired by Uzodimma.
The dispute has centred partly on Wike’s Rainbow Coalition, a cross-party political arrangement that he has said is intended to mobilise support for President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid while allowing political parties to field candidates for other elections. APC governors have opposed political arrangements they believe could affect the party and its candidates in the 2027 elections.
Uzodimma, who became Imo State governor in 2020, is expected to leave office in January 2028 and has been linked to plans to return to the Senate in 2027.
Meanwhile, the Senate amended its Standing Orders in May 2026 to tighten eligibility requirements for presiding and principal offices.
The amended rules provide that nominations for presiding positions must follow the principle of ranking. The ranking order includes former Senate presidents, former deputy Senate presidents, former principal officers, senators who have served at least one term, former members of the House of Representatives and, where no other eligible candidate is available, first-time senators.
Reports on the amendment also state that senators seeking the offices of Senate President or Deputy Senate President must have at least eight years of continuous service, while principal offices are subject to additional ranking requirements.
The amended rules could therefore have implications for the eligibility of lawmakers elected to the Senate for the first time in 2027.
Wike’s latest comments add to the public disagreement between him and Uzodimma as political activity intensifies ahead of the 2027 general elections.
