Dele Momodu Dismisses Wike Osun Claim As Empty Boast

Dele Momodu, a chieftain of the African Democratic Congress, has dismissed a recent assertion by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, regarding the outcome of the Osun State governorship election. In an interview on News Central Television, Momodu characterized Wike’s claim as an “empty boast” and warned that such rhetoric signals a potentially coercive strategy ahead of the 2027 general Elections.

Wike had stated that he would have campaigned in Osun State to secure victory for the All Progressives Congress if President Bola Tinubu had desired the party to win. Responding directly, Momodu argued that the minister’s influence could not surpass that of the Senate President and the multiple governors who mobilized for the APC in Osun but failed to deliver the desired result. The publisher of Ovation Magazine described the statement as unfortunate for a serving minister, suggesting it revealed an intention to rely on enforcement rather than popular support to win future contests.

“The only way the APC can win the next presidential election and all the governorship elections is very simple,” Momodu said. “They will need to repeat what they attempted in Osun and failed woefully.” He further reminded Wike that five prominent politicians, including three governors from the G-5 group, had left the Peoples Democratic Party during the last election cycle. Those three governors — from Abia, Enugu, and Benue states — subsequently contested senatorial seats in their respective states and lost decisively. Momodu cited this as evidence that incumbent governors do not possess absolute electoral control.

“Wike would have to divide himself into 36 states plus Abuja for him to perform the kind of magic he thinks he can perform,” Momodu added. The exchange underscores growing tensions within Nigeria’s political class as parties begin positioning for the next electoral cycle. Observers note that the public disagreement between high-profile figures highlights debates over the role of federal power in state-level contests and the limits of individual political influence. The ADC chieftain’s remarks reflect a broader skepticism about the ruling party’s capacity to replicate centralized mobilization efforts across the federation.