Supporting Tinubu not anti-party activity – Wike’s aide
Lere Olayinka, media aide to Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike, defended the backing of President Bola Tinubu’s re-election campaign by members of the opposition, asserting that such support does not constitute anti-party activity.
Olayinka, who also serves as a spokesperson for the Directorate of Media and Strategic Communications of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council, shared his views during an interview with Arise TV. His comments come as political realignments surface in the lead-up to the 2027 general election.
He emphasized that the support Tinubu has garnered from politicians outside the ruling APC signifies a notable shift in Nigeria’s political environment. Olayinka pointed to Wike’s prominent role within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to underscore his argument. He noted that the PDP has not publicly disavowed Wike’s endorsement of Tinubu.
“The PDP has come out openly to say we are backing this person. Nyesom Wike is the national leader of PDP, and he has said that PDP is backing the President,” Olayinka stated.
He maintained that the lack of a formal rejection from PDP leadership supports his view that this political arrangement should not be misconstrued as anti-party activity.
The interview addressed growing discussions around cross-party alliances, spotlighting figures such as Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke of the Accord Party and Anambra State Governor Professor Chukwuma Soludo of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA). Wike has been involved in efforts to forge a coalition of support for Tinubu.
In response to concerns regarding how these alliances might affect elections at state and local levels, Olayinka clarified that the current focus is primarily on the presidential election and does not necessarily influence other electoral contests.
“It is called a general election. In a general election, there are elections at every stage: presidential, National Assembly, governorship, and House of Assembly,” he explained, adding that individual political dynamics at local levels are crucial in determining electoral outcomes.
Olayinka contended that established voting patterns would limit the impact of national alliances on voters’ preferences. Drawing from his experience as a former House of Representatives candidate in Ekiti State during the 2023 general election, he noted that many voters display loyalty to their chosen parties, irrespective of political endorsements.
“The voting patterns in most local polling units are consistent,” he remarked. Furthermore, he stated that voters are unlikely to change their choices based on the endorsements of political figures, citing his own polling unit as a case in point.
His statements arrive as political analysts continue to evaluate whether cross-party support for Tinubu may enhance his re-election chances and prompt new political strategies from opposition parties in the approaching 2027 elections.
