The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has stated he has no regrets about working with members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to defeat the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2024 Edo State governorship election.
Wike stated the collaboration was supposed to cease former Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, from putting in a successor, including that his resolution was not based mostly on the competence of the PDP candidate, Asue Ighodalo.
He made the disclosure on Monday in Abuja at a stakeholders’ assembly of the Rainbow Coalition, a political platform he’s selling to mobilise help for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election in 2027.
According to Wike, an alliance between the PDP and APC contributed considerably to the victory of the APC candidate, Monday Okpebholo, in the Edo governorship election.
“Let me say this for individuals to know. Lots of people deny apparent info. In the final election that occurred in Edo State, the victory was on account of the coalition between the legacy of PDP and the APC.
ALSO READ: 2027: ADC insists on restoring fuel subsidy, defends action
“We had to work together to make sure that the former governor, Governor Obaseki, did not produce his successor. And that is the truth. I was behind it, and I don’t have any regrets about it,” he stated.
Recall Okpebholo gained the September 21, 2024 governorship election with 291,667 votes, defeating Ighodalo, who polled 247,274 votes. The Labour Party candidate, Olumide Akpata, completed third with 22,763 votes, in accordance to outcomes introduced by the Independent National Electoral Commission.
Explaining his opposition to Ighodalo, Wike stated he thought of the PDP candidate certified for the place however was unwilling to help an association that will permit Obaseki to retain political affect by way of his successor.
The minister disclosed that Ighodalo visited his residence greater than thrice to search his help however was turned down.
“He got here to my home greater than thrice. I stated, pay attention, you’re candidate. But for this election, I’m sorry.
“This election is between us and the man who is bringing you, Governor Obaseki, an ingrate person, ungrateful person. So returning you is like bringing him back. So I’m sorry. You have to fail. And he failed,” Wike stated.
He additionally argued that political coalitions weren’t new to Nigeria, sustaining that alliances between politicians from totally different events had influenced electoral outcomes over time.
“So when individuals say that nothing like coalition, they inform lies. The reality of the matter is that it has been there relying on how it’s labored out.
“So the governor today, Senator Okpebholo, we know sincerely that it was that coalition. Senator Adams Oshiomhole can also attest that it was that coalition that made us to defeat the PDP, even though I’m a member of PDP. But for that purpose, I said I would not support the incumbent governor to produce a successor,” he stated.
Wike’s remarks come amid controversy over the Rainbow Coalition, which he has promoted as a platform to rally help for Tinubu’s re-election bid whereas permitting politicians to retain membership of their respective events.
The FCT minister has maintained that the coalition is targeted on the 2027 presidential election and operates individually from the APC.
However, some APC governors and occasion officers have expressed opposition to the association, warning that political alliances exterior the occasion’s formal construction may undermine its candidates in the 2027 basic election.
Wike stays a member of the PDP whereas serving in the APC-led Federal Government as FCT minister. His help for Tinubu has continued to put him at odds with some members of his occasion over the opposition’s political course forward of the 2027 elections.
WATCH TOP VIDEOS FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE TV
