‘I won’t answer questions from you’, Wike’s aide clashes with journalist on TV

Lere Olayinka, media aide to FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, has refuted allegations that the minister acted disloyally by endorsing President Bola Tinubu for the 2027 presidential election. Olayinka stated that Wike had never concealed his support for Tinubu, asserting that the minister had declared his allegiance even before the People's Democratic Party (PDP) announced its candidate, Professor Sunday Oloruntuyi.

During an interview on Arise TV, Olayinka dismissed the description of Wike as "treacherous" as inaccurate, as the term implies secretly betraying someone while pretending to be their friend. He clarified that Wike had openly expressed his support for Tinubu even before the PDP unveiled its presidential hopeful, stating that he had never concealed his position.

Olayinka further explained that Wike informed Oloruntuyi that, while he could contest the election, the PDP's current condition would make it challenging for the party to make a significant impact. He argued that not all presidential candidates aim to win, some merely participate to "register their presence." Olayinka also mentioned that the number of presidential candidates in the 2027 election suggested that not all candidates were realistically seeking victory.

He cited the African Action Congress candidate, Omoyele Sowore, who secured 14,600 votes in the 2023 election, questioning how such a candidate could win in 2027. Olayinka also doubted the electoral strength of the New Nigeria Peoples Party, pointing out that the party lacked governorship candidates in 15 of the 28 states where gubernatorial elections would be held in 2027.

He similarly questioned the chances of the African Democratic Congress, noting that the party did not have governorship candidates in nine of the 28 states. Olayinka maintained that the minister's assertion that Tinubu would have an easy win in 2027 was based on the weakness he perceived in the opposition, which he believed would make the election the "easiest" for Tinubu to win.