Wike Claims He Blocked Obaseki's Successor in Edo Election

Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, revealed his strategic role in the Edo State governorship election during a Rainbow Coalition stakeholders’ meeting in Abuja. Wike stated that he vowed to prevent the then-outgoing governor, Godwin Obaseki, from producing a successor, despite acknowledging that Dr Asue Ighodalo was a strong candidate.

Wike's coalition supported Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who ultimately defeated Ighodalo, the candidate from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Wike recounted that Ighodalo, who was the chairman of a bank, approached him multiple times, but Wike insisted that supporting Ighodalo would equate to endorsing Obaseki's return to power.

He firmly stated, "Returning you would be like bringing him back, so I am sorry, you have to fail," which ultimately led to Ighodalo's defeat in the election.