A high-stakes contest is emerging over the leadership of President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 re-election campaign, with Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma, FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, and former Zamfara State Governor Senator Abdulazeez Yari positioning themselves for the coveted role of Director-General.
Multiple sources familiar with the developments say the rivalry has extended beyond regional influence, with each actor aiming to become central to the planning and execution of Tinubu’s second-term strategy.
Insiders explained that the contest is playing out across both the South-East and South-South, where Uzodimma and Wike are jostling for control of grassroots mobilisation and campaign coordination structures. Meanwhile, Yari is working to consolidate northern support, positioning himself as a strong contender for the DG role on a national scale.
Uzodimma is leveraging his position as Chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF) and his coordination of the pro-Tinubu group, Renewed Hope Ambassadors, to consolidate influence in the South-East.
Yari, on his part, leads a parallel support structure, the Renewed Hope Network (TRN), a nationwide movement he launched to mobilise grassroots support for the President’s re-election.
Wike continues to draw on his entrenched political machinery in the South-South, while expanding alliances in parts of the South-East, aiming to position himself as an indispensable strategist in Tinubu’s campaign.
Sources say the renewed friction between Uzodimma and Wike reflects a broader contest for both regional and national supremacy within the APC, with both men asserting their indispensability to the President’s re-election project.
The rivalry is further complicated by unresolved political disagreements, including Uzodimma’s stance during the Rivers State crisis, where he openly backed Governor Siminalayi Fubara against forces aligned with the FCT minister.
Political analysts say the battle lines are now clearly drawn, with each camp strategically consolidating endorsements, building vast networks, and seeking influence over campaign structures in key regions.
While Wike reportedly projects his capacity to deliver votes in the South-South, Uzodimma insists the APC’s South-East structure remains strong and capable of driving Tinubu’s campaign without external intervention.
Uzodimma has also cautioned against what he describes as “political opportunism,” insisting that only committed party loyalists should oversee the execution of the President’s re-election campaign.
“We do not want crafty politicians who aim to exploit the APC under the guise of supporting our leader,” Uzodimma reportedly said in remarks widely interpreted as targeting Wike and other emerging contenders.
Some observers who spoke to this newspaper note that Wike has responded with a subtle assertion of influence, declaring that no political actor will be allowed to dictate outcomes in areas under his control, signaling his refusal to accept external interference.
The unfolding contest has raised concerns within the APC and allied political networks, with party stakeholders warning that the scramble for the DG position and regional control could strain coordination ahead of the 2027 elections.
Political watchers caution that unless the ambitions of Uzodimma, Wike, and Yari are carefully managed, the emerging power struggle may undermine party cohesion and complicate efforts to establish a unified campaign apparatus for Tinubu’s second term.
