Supporting Tinubu not anti-party activity – Wike’s aide

Lere Olayinka, media aide to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has defended the decision by some opposition figures to support President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid, insisting that the move does not amount to anti-party activity.

Olayinka, who is also a spokesperson for the Directorate of Media and Strategic Communications of the APC Presidential Campaign Council, made the remarks in an interview with Arise TV while discussing political realignments ahead of the 2027 general election.

He argued that the support Tinubu is receiving from politicians outside the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, reflects a significant development in Nigeria’s political landscape.

He cited the position of Wike, a prominent member of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, arguing that the party had not publicly disowned the minister over his support for Tinubu.

“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,” he said.

Olayinka maintained that the absence of a public repudiation by the PDP leadership supported his argument that the arrangement should not be regarded as anti-party activity.

The interview comes amid debate over cross-party alliances involving political figures, including Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke of the Accord Party, Anambra State Governor Professor Chukwuma Soludo of APGA, and Wike, who has been associated with efforts to build a rainbow coalition in support of Tinubu.

Addressing concerns that the alliance could affect electoral contests at the state and constituency levels, Olayinka said the arrangement was focused on the presidential election and did not necessarily extend to other elections.

“It is called a general election. And general election, there are elections at every stage: presidential election, National Assembly election, governorship election, and House of Assembly election,” he said.

According to him, political parties and candidates would continue to pursue their separate interests in governorship and legislative elections, where local political dynamics often determine the outcome.

“The only area that PDP has come out to say we are together is the presidential election,” he added.

Olayinka also argued that established voting patterns at the grassroots would limit the extent to which national political alliances could influence voters’ choices.

Drawing on his experience as a former House of Representatives candidate in Ekiti State during the 2023 general election, he said many voters remained loyal to their preferred parties regardless of political endorsements.

“The voting patterns in most local polling units are consistent,” he said.

He added that voters with established party preferences would not necessarily change their choices because of endorsements by political leaders.

“In my polling unit, for instance, we know those who vote APC. So whatever you go and tell them, they will not listen to you,” Olayinka said.

His comments come as political observers continue to assess whether cross-party support for Tinubu could strengthen his re-election prospects while creating fresh political calculations for opposition parties ahead of the 2027 general election.