A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Dele Momodu, has dismissed a statement by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, regarding the recently concluded Osun State governorship election as an “empty boast.”
Wike had said he would have travelled to Osun State to help secure victory for the All Progressives Congress (APC) if President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had wanted the party to win the election.
Reacting during an interview with News Central Television on Wednesday, Momodu argued that Wike’s influence could not have been greater than that of the Senate President and several governors who were already involved in efforts to secure victory for the APC in the state.
The publisher of Ovation Magazine described Wike’s comment as “unusual, uncommon and unfortunate,” warning that the statement could point to a strategy of using political influence and enforcement to secure victories for the APC ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“I think it was a very unusual, uncommon and unfortunate statement for a minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to make, but nothing is beyond our friend, Wike, the FCT Minister.
“When I listened to him, I had to respond instantly because I knew that was an empty boast. If he had been in Osun, he would not have achieved anything.
“He is not bigger than the Senate President and all the governors who carried themselves to Osun to try to deliver Osun to the APC,” Momodu said.
He further warned that Wike’s comment should be taken seriously as the country approaches the 2027 elections.
“The danger in his statement must be noted, especially as we approach January 2027.
“The only way the APC can win the next presidential election and all the governorship elections is very simple. They will need to repeat what they attempted in Osun and failed woefully,” he added.
Momodu also recalled the decision of the G-5 governors to abandon the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) during the 2023 elections, noting that some of the former governors subsequently failed in their attempts to secure senatorial seats.
“I need to also remind Wike, in case he has already forgotten, that five of them abandoned the PDP in the last election, and three of them were from Abia, Enugu and Benue states.
“The then governors, three of the G-5 governors, attempted to win senatorial seats in their respective states and also failed spectacularly. So, that is to tell you that governors don’t have the power of life and death,” Momodu said.
He concluded by questioning Wike’s ability to influence electoral outcomes across the country.
“Wike would have to divide himself into 36 states plus Abuja for him to perform the kind of magic he thinks he can perform,” he said.
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