Arise Television presenter, Rufai Oseni, has said the political influence of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, is already shaping developments within the All Progressives Congress, APC, warning governors in states where the minister has political interests not to take him lightly.
Oseni said Wike’s alleged proximity to President Bola Tinubu had become evident.
The journalist made the remarks on Friday during the What’s Trending segment of Arise Television’s Morning Show, anchored by Ojy Okpe.
The remark comes amid the sacking of Governor Hope Uzodimma as the 2027 APC Imo West senatorial candidate by the court.
The court also declared former governor Rochas Okorocha as the rightful candidate.
He recalled that Wike had claimed Tinubu endorsed his proposed rainbow coalition, while Uzodimma subsequently said the President had also directed them to work towards delivering the APC.
According to Oseni, the conflicting claims suggest that Wike currently enjoys considerable access to the President.
“The day Wike said that President Tinubu endorsed rainbow coalition, and Uzodimma came and he said, ‘No, we spoke to the president too. He said we should go and deliver APC’.
“It just means that it is Wike that has the closest proximity to the president as we speak today,” he said.
Oseni argued that the influence of Wike’s rainbow coalition was already extending beyond Rivers State and influencing political calculations within the ruling party.
He maintained that Wike had demonstrated a greater political influence than some governors, including Ademola Adeleke and Chukwuma Soludo.
“The effect of Rainbow coalition has started to permeate through Nigeria. Wike’s rainbow coalition is already shaping the APC. So what it means is that President Tinubu obviously tilts to the way of Wike,” he added.
On Uzodimma’s political future, Oseni said the Imo governor could still challenge developments surrounding the APC, noting that his political history made it difficult to dismiss his influence.
However, he warned governors in states where Wike has political interests to pay attention to the unfolding developments.
“When it comes to election matters like this, the dynamics are shaping and things are shaping up, and the rainbow coalition is going to play a prominent role in politics.
“So other states that Wike have interest, those governors shouldn’t sleep,” Oseni said.
