The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has said he will not support Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma for the position of Senate President.
Wike made his position known on Monday during an appearance on TVC’s Journalists’ Hangout, amid reported political differences between him and the Progressive Governors’ Forum.
The minister said Uzodimma’s tenure as governor would end in January 2028 and criticised the reported plan by the Imo governor to return to the Senate and seek the leadership of the chamber.
“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.
He also alleged that Uzodimma was working to influence the emergence of lawmakers who would support his reported ambition.
The development comes amid differences between Wike and the Progressive Governors’ Forum, which is led by Uzodimma.
The forum recently said it would not support political alliances or arrangements that could undermine President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid or the All Progressives Congress candidates in the 2027 elections.
Wike, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party, has been associated with a cross-party political coalition backing Tinubu’s re-election.
The minister said in January that the coalition represented a move away from conventional party politics towards a political movement focused on protecting the interests of states.
Meanwhile, Uzodimma is expected to complete his second term as Imo governor in January 2028 and is reported to be considering a return to the Senate.
His reported Senate ambition could, however, face challenges under the chamber’s amended standing rules.
The Senate amended its standing orders in May, introducing stricter ranking requirements for senators seeking presiding and principal offices.
Under the amended rules, senators seeking the offices of Senate President and Deputy Senate President must have at least eight years of continuous service in the chamber.
The rules also provide that nominations for presiding offices should follow the principle of ranking.
Other principal offices are subject to additional requirements, including a provision that a senator must have served at least two consecutive terms immediately before nomination.
The changes could affect politicians seeking to return to the Senate in 2027 after previously serving in the chamber.
Uzodimma served as a senator representing Imo West before becoming governor of Imo State.
The Senate rule changes have generated political discussions over their implications for lawmakers seeking leadership positions in the 10th Senate and those expected to join the chamber after the 2027 elections.
