Wike Says He Will Never Support Uzodimma For Senate President

Nyesom Wike has drawn a very clear line in the sand. The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory said on TVC's Journalists' Hangout programme on Monday that he will not support Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma's ambition to become Nigeria's next Senate President, and he did not dress it up at all. His words: "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 also alleged that Uzodimma is trying to influence the emergence of lawmakers who would back his ambition to lead the Senate. This is coming amid an open disagreement between Wike and the Progressive Governors Forum, which Uzodimma leads. Last week the PGF said it would not support any political arrangement that could affect President Bola Tinubu's re-election bid or the APC's chances in 2027, a statement widely read as a jab at the Rainbow Coalition associated with Wike.

Here is the part that should interest every Nigerian. The Senate changed its Standing Orders in May, and under the amended rules, only senators with at least eight years of continuous service can contest for Senate President or Deputy Senate President. A senator must also have served two consecutive terms immediately before nomination to qualify for a principal office. So Uzodimma is reportedly interested in a seat that the rules may not even allow him to sit in. We are watching grown men fight over a chair while the rest of us are still waiting for the minimum wage to buy a bag of rice. Be honest, does any of this fight affect your life one bit?