Wike: I Helped Defeat Ighodalo to Stop Obaseki’s Return Through Him

FCT Minister Nyesom Wike has revealed that he played a role in the defeat of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Dr Asue Ighodalo, in the 2024 Edo State governorship election.

Speaking at a political gathering, Wike said he deliberately opposed Ighodalo’s candidacy because he viewed the election as a contest against former Governor Godwin Obaseki, who backed Ighodalo.

Wike described Ighodalo, a former bank managing director, as a “very good candidate” and disclosed that the PDP candidate visited him more than three times seeking his support.

According to Wike, he told Ighodalo that supporting his candidacy would amount to allowing Obaseki to return to power.

“I know you are a good candidate, but for this election I am sorry; because this election is between us and the man who is bringing you, called Obaseki. Returning you would be like bringing him back. So I am sorry, you have to fail,” Wike said.

He added, “And he failed.”

Wike also claimed to have contributed to the emergence of Governor Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who defeated Ighodalo in the election.

The minister further spoke about political arrangements involving President Bola Tinubu, saying he had agreed to allow the President’s party to take certain National Assembly seats while retaining some political space for his own party in Rivers State.

“I said, oga, take the Senate seat and the two House of Representatives seats for your party. But in Rivers State, I’ll take small for my party to show I’m the National Leader of PDP,” Wike said.