Osun Election: ‘Empty Boast’ — Dele Momodu Replies Wike

Chieftain of the African Democratic Congress, Dele Momodu, has described as an “empty boast” a statement by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, concerning the recently concluded Osun State governorship election.

Wike had said he would have travelled to Osun State to help secure victory for the All Progressives Congress if President Bola Tinubu had wanted the party to win the election.

Reacting during an interview on News Central Television on Wednesday, Momodu dismissed the claim, arguing that Wike’s political influence was not greater than that of the Senate President and several governors who reportedly campaigned for the APC in the state.

Momodu, who is also the publisher of Ovation Magazine, described Wike’s comment as unfortunate and warned that the statement could indicate a strategy of using political influence or enforcement to secure victories for the APC in the 2027 elections.

“I knew that was an empty boast. If he had been in Osun, he would not have achieved anything,” Momodu said.

He argued that Wike could not have achieved more than the Senate President and governors who were already involved in efforts to deliver Osun to the ruling party.

Momodu further recalled the activities of the G-5 governors ahead of the 2023 general elections, noting that some of the former governors who left the Peoples Democratic Party also failed in subsequent senatorial contests in their respective states.

He said the development demonstrated that governors did not possess unlimited political influence over voters.

“Governors don’t have the power of life and death,” Momodu stated.

He also cautioned against what he described as an attempt to replicate the political strategy allegedly deployed during the Osun election ahead of the 2027 general elections.

According to him, the outcome of the Osun election showed that political power could not simply be imposed on voters.

He argued that for Wike to exercise the level of influence he appeared to claim across Nigeria, he would have to operate simultaneously across all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

“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.

Momodu maintained that the Osun election should serve as a reminder to political actors that voters ultimately determine electoral outcomes, regardless of the strength or number of political figures campaigning for a particular candidate.