Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Lere Olayinka, the Senior Special Assistant to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, on Public Communications and Social Media, has sent shockwaves through the political landscape by declaring that a significant number of the 19 presidential candidates cleared for the 2027 election are not genuinely contesting to win. In an interview on Arise News on Friday, September 4, 2026, Olayinka dismissed the crowded field as a charade, arguing that many candidates are simply on the ballot to "register their presence" and have no realistic path to victory. He questioned whether all 19 candidates on the ballot truly believe they can win the presidency, stating, "Can we say honestly that all the 19 are contesting with the mindset of winning? The answer is no".
Olayinka singled out two prominent contenders for particular scorn: the African Action Congress candidate, Omoyele Sowore, and the Nigeria Democratic Congress candidate, Peter Obi. He pointed to Sowore's performance in the 2023 election, where he polled a meagre 14,600 votes, as definitive proof that the activist-turned-politician has no chance of victory in 2027. "How would that person win the election next year? They know that they cannot win. They are just contesting," Olayinka said.
The Wike aide was equally dismissive of Peter Obi, the former Anambra State governor who has cultivated a massive social media following. Olayinka argued that the NDC lacks the necessary grassroots structure to mount a serious challenge. He pointed to the party's failure to field governorship candidates in many states, claiming they only have candidates in 13 states and did not contest recent elections in Ekiti and Osun. "How do you win an election when you don't have people on ground to canvass votes for you, to manage elections for you?" Olayinka asked.
Olayinka stressed that winning a presidential election is not about making noise or building a social media presence but about having a formidable ground game. He argued that a serious contender must have a deep bench of personnel to manage the electoral process at the nation's 176,846 polling units. "To make good impression on election day, you need at least five people to manage each polling unit for you. We have done elections before, so we know what it is. It is not about making noise," he said. His comments come amid a crowded 2027 presidential race that includes incumbent President Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), former Vice President Atiku Abubakar of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), and others. Olayinka's statement has already sparked a political firestorm, with many questioning the motives behind the Wike camp's dismissal of the opposition's viability.
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