A quiet political disagreement between Hope Uzodimma, chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF), and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, is reportedly intensifying over strategies for the 2027 re-election campaign of Bola Ahmed Tinubu in Nigeria’s South-East and South-South regions.
Political sources say the disagreement, which initially emerged during the political crisis in Rivers State involving Governor Siminalayi Fubara, has now grown into a wider contest over influence, mobilisation structures, and control of political alliances ahead of the next general election.
The friction between the two influential figures reportedly deepened following the earlier declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State during the height of the political standoff between factions loyal to Wike and those aligned with Governor Fubara.
Observers say the episode created lasting mistrust between political camps associated with Uzodimma and Wike within the broader ruling political ecosystem.
Since then, the disagreement has evolved beyond Rivers politics and now centres on how best to organise support for President Tinubu’s second-term ambition across the South-East and South-South geopolitical zones.
Sources familiar with the matter indicate that both men are pursuing different approaches to deliver votes for the president.
Wike is said to be building a broad coalition of political actors across party lines, arguing that electoral victory in the region requires inclusive engagement rather than strict party loyalty.
He has reportedly expressed confidence in his ability to mobilise substantial support for Tinubu across several South-South states, including Rivers State, Cross River State, Edo State, and Bayelsa State.
Uzodimma, however, is said to hold a different view.
The PGF chairman reportedly believes that the ruling party already possesses strong grassroots structures capable of delivering votes without depending on politicians whose loyalty to the party might be uncertain.
According to sources close to the governors’ forum, Uzodimma has insisted that only individuals fully committed to the All Progressives Congress (APC) should be entrusted with the responsibility of mobilising electoral support for the president.
He reportedly warned that relying on politicians with divided loyalty could weaken the party’s strategy ahead of the 2027 polls.
Uzodimma is said to have argued that those who genuinely support Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda should formally join the APC rather than operate from outside the party structure.
In response, Wike has reportedly continued to engage political leaders from various parties in the South-South as part of his wider mobilization strategy.
At a recent high-level stakeholder meeting in Abuja, which brought together political actors from both the APC and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), the FCT minister reportedly warned against what he described as attempts by external actors to dictate political outcomes in Rivers State.
Wike emphasized that the political direction of Rivers State would be determined internally by its stakeholders.
According to sources at the meeting, he insisted that no sitting governor or external political structure would be allowed to interfere in the state’s political affairs.
His remarks are widely interpreted as a subtle response to attempts by some APC leaders to assert influence over political alignments in the oil-rich state ahead of the next electoral cycle.
Meanwhile, political developments in Enugu State have also become intertwined with the unfolding rivalry.
Former Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Uche Nnaji, is reportedly aligning with political interests associated with the Wike bloc as part of emerging alliances ahead of future elections.
Nnaji, who contested the 2023 governorship election in Enugu, has continued to raise concerns about alleged irregularities surrounding his academic records, an issue he claims negatively affected his political career and contributed to his departure from the federal cabinet.
Political analysts say the alignment could influence future electoral calculations in the South-East, where both camps are trying to expand their influence.
The growing tension between Uzodimma and Wike is widely viewed as part of early political positioning ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Analysts note that as political actors begin to consolidate alliances, rival blocs are gradually emerging within and across party lines, particularly in regions considered crucial to the president’s electoral prospects.
Both the South-East and South-South remain politically strategic zones, and the outcome of ongoing alignments could shape the balance of power in the coming election cycle.
For now, however, insiders say the disagreement between Uzodimma and Wike reflects a deeper struggle over political influence, mobilisation structures, and control of the narrative surrounding President Tinubu’s future electoral ambitions.
