Federal Capital Territory Minister [Nyesom Wike](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nyesom_Wike) openly acknowledged that he deliberately worked against PDP candidate Asue Ighodalo in the September 2024 Edo State governorship election to prevent former governor [Godwin Obaseki](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Godwin_Obaseki) from installing his preferred successor, stating he bears no remorse for his actions.
**Key facts**
- The election took place in September 2024, with APC candidate Monday Okpebholo ultimately defeating Ighodalo.
- Wike said a cross‑party alliance between elements of the PDP and APC was the decisive factor in blocking Obaseki’s influence.
- He recounted that Ighodalo visited his home more than three times seeking endorsement, but Wike refused, citing Obaseki’s involvement.
- "We had to work together to make sure that the former governor, Governor Obaseki, did not produce his successor. And that is the truth. I was behind it, and I don’t have any regrets about it," Wike told a stakeholders’ meeting of the rainbow coalition in Abuja.
- Both former Edo governor and senator Adams Oshiomhole and the newly elected governor Monday Okpebholo were said to be able to confirm the coalition’s impact.
What was the coalition?
Wike explained that a strategic partnership between members of the PDP and the APC was forged ahead of the Edo poll. This alliance aimed to ensure that Obaseki could not retain political clout through a hand‑picked successor, even though the two parties traditionally compete against each other.
Why did Wike oppose a candidate from his own party?
Although Wike is a PDP member serving in President Bola Tinubu’s cabinet, he argued that his opposition stemmed solely from Obaseki’s attempt to “produce his successor.” He described Ighodalo as a competent candidate but said supporting him would effectively extend Obaseki’s influence beyond his tenure.
Who can verify the coalition’s role?
Wike asserted that Senator Adams Oshiomhole, a former Edo governor, and Governor‑elect Monday Okpebholo would both attest that the cross‑party coalition was instrumental in the PDP’s defeat, despite Wike’s own party affiliation.
The minister concluded that the Edo contest serves as a clear example of how political actors in Nigeria can collaborate across party lines to achieve a shared objective, regardless of ideological differences.