Wike Admits Working Against Ighodalo in Edo 2024 Governorship Election
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has admitted that he worked against the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Asue Ighodalo, in the September 2024 Edo State governorship election to prevent former Governor Godwin Obaseki from installing a successor.
Wike made the disclosure on Monday at a stakeholders’ meeting of the rainbow coalition in Abuja, where he attributed the All Progressives Congress (APC)’s victory to a political alliance between elements of the PDP and the ruling party.
The APC candidate, Monday Okpebholo, defeated Ighodalo in the election.
Wike, a PDP member serving in President Bola Tinubu’s administration, said he deliberately refused to support Ighodalo because he believed his victory would allow Obaseki to retain political influence.
“I was behind it, and I don’t have any regrets about it,” the minister said, referring to the collaboration that helped defeat the PDP candidate.
He acknowledged that Ighodalo was a good candidate and a former bank managing director but maintained that his opposition was driven by his determination to stop Obaseki from producing his successor.
According to Wike, Ighodalo visited his residence more than three times to seek his support, but he turned him down because of his disagreement with the former governor.
The minister cited Okpebholo and former Edo governor and senator, Adams Oshiomhole, as witnesses to the role played by the alliance in the election.
His disclosure comes amid renewed political realignments ahead of the 2027 general elections, with the rainbow coalition attracting attention as political actors explore alliances beyond traditional party lines.
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