Rivers 2023: Top 3 Likely Successors of Governor Nyesom Wike

 

• The succession battle for the Governorship Seat in Rivers state is gradually getting more interesting
• Several Aspirants from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and All Progressives Congress (APC) have begun strategizing to achieve their political goals in 2023.
• All things being equal, Below are the names of top three likely successors of Governor Nyesom Wike.

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1. Dr. Tammy Wenuke DanagogoDanagogo, 50 is a Legal Pratictioner turned Politician, an indigene of Abonnema, Akuku-toru Local Government Area of Rivers State, He began his Political Career in 2004 when he was elected as the Executive Chairman of Akuku-toru Local Government Council.

In November 2008, Danagogo was appointed as Commissioner for Chieftaincy and Community Affairs under the Rotimi Amaechi-led Administration, he further served as Commissioner for Urban Development and resigned in December 2013.

Danagogo later became the Minister of Sports and Chairman of the National Sports Commission, a position he held until the end Dr. Goodluck Jonathan’s Tenure in May 2015.

In June 2019, He was appointed as Secretary to the Rivers State Government by Governor Nyesom Wike, a position he is serving till date.

1. Senator Magnus Ngei Abe

Abe, 55 entered politics in 1999 when he was elected into the Rivers State House of Assembly, serving as a Minority Leader. In 2003 he defected to the PDP, and from 2003 to 2007 he was Commissioner of Information in Rivers State in the administration of Governor Peter Odili.

When Governor Chibuike Amaechi entered office in May 2007, Abe was appointed as Secretary to the State Government.

He resigned to compete for the position of Senator for Rivers South East, but was then re-appointed as the Secretary to Rivers State Government.

In the April 2011 elections, Abe of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) defeated Dr. Nomate Toate Kpea of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) to win the Rivers East Senatorial Seat. Senator Magnus Abe defected to All Progressives Congress (APC) on 29 January 2014.

In the 2015 General Elections, he lost his return bid to Olaka Nwogu of the PDP, before the poll was invalidated by the Court thereby paving way for a Re-run Election which Senator Abe eventually won and served in the Senate until May 2019.

1. Engr. Tele Ikuru

Ikuru, 54 is a trained Mechanical Engineer, He worked with the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) until 1996. In 1999, Ikuru was appointed as the Rivers State Commissioner for Agriculture by the then Governor Peter Odili, he held that position until May 2003.

Between 2004 and 2006, He was the Rivers State Commissioner for Housing and Urban Development.

Ikuru served as Deputy Governor of Rivers State from 2007 to 2015 during which he joined the All Progressives Congress in 2013 and later returned to his Former Party, the PDP shortly before the 2015 General Elections.

He is well-known as a Political Godson of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus.