The quiet political disagreement between Chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF), Senator Hope Uzodimma, and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, is reportedly escalating over strategies for President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 re-election campaign in the South-East and South-South regions.

The rift, which dates back to disagreements over the political crisis in Rivers State involving Governor Siminalayi Fubara, has now reportedly widened into a broader struggle over political influence and mobilisation structures ahead of the next general election.

The disagreement intensified following the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State earlier in the political crisis, which deepened mistrust between both camps within the ruling political space.

Sources indicate that tensions have further escalated as both Uzodimma and Wike pursue competing strategies for delivering votes to President Tinubu in their respective strongholds.

While Wike has reportedly expressed confidence in delivering substantial votes for the President across several South-South states, including Rivers, Cross River, Edo, and Bayelsa, Uzodimma maintains that the ruling party already has sufficient grassroots structures and should avoid reliance on external political actors.

The PGF chairman has insisted that only individuals fully committed to the All Progressives Congress should be trusted in the mobilisation effort, warning against what he described as “politicians with doubtful loyalty.”

He was quoted as saying that those who believe in the Renewed Hope Agenda should formally join the APC, arguing that divided loyalty poses a risk to the party’s electoral strategy.

In response, Wike who has been actively engaging political stakeholders across party lines in the South-South—has maintained that no external political structure will dictate outcomes in Rivers State.

At a recent high-level stakeholder meeting in Abuja with political actors from both the APC and the PDP, the FCT Minister warned against external interference in Rivers politics, insisting that he would not allow any governor to influence political outcomes in the state.

He reaffirmed his position that Rivers State’s political direction would be determined internally, regardless of broader national alignments.

Meanwhile, political developments in Enugu State have also become entangled in the growing tension, with former Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Uche Nnaji, reportedly aligning with interests linked to the Wike political bloc ahead of future elections.

Nnaji, who contested the 2023 Enugu governorship election, has continued to allege irregularities involving his academic records, which he claims affected his political trajectory and exit from the federal cabinet.

The unfolding rift between key political actors is seen as part of wider positioning ahead of the 2027 elections, as alliances and rival blocs continue to emerge within and across party lines. (Guardian)