Ezenwo Nyesom Wike

Ezenwo Nyesom Wike (born 13 December 1967) is a Nigerian politician and lawyer who has served as the minister of the Federal Capital Territory since 2023. He previously served as the governor of Rivers State from 2015 to 2023. He is an Ikwerre from Rumuepirikom in Obio-Akpor, Rivers State. He is a member of the People's Democratic Party and was educated at Rivers State University of Science and Technology. Wike was elected as a two-term Executive Chairman of Obio Akpor Local Government Area from 1999 to 2007. He was appointed Minister of State for Education on 14 July 2011. Wike was later appointed the Acting Minister of Education, after Ruqayyah Ahmed Rufa'i was sacked but resigned before finishing his term to campaign for governor of Rivers State. He was replaced by Viola Onwuliri. In 2014, he won the Rivers State People's Democratic Party primary and chose former Secretary to the State Government Ipalibo Banigo as his running mate for deputy governor. Wike defeated Dakuku Peterside of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Tonye Princewill of the Labour Party in the 11 April gubernatorial elections to emerge as governor. In March 2022, Wike declared that he will be running for the office of the president of Nigeria under the platform of the People's Democratic Party ahead of the 2023 General election, he was defeated by Atiku Abubakar who won the primaries with 371 votes while Wike got 237 votes being the first runner up. during the People's Democratic Party presidential election primary which was held at the MKO ABIOLA National stadium, Abuja on 28 and 29 May 2022. President Bola Tinubu appointed Wike as minister of the FCT on 16 August 2023, following his nomination, screening and approval by the senate.