Chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Dele Momodu, has taken a swipe at the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, over his claim that he could have delivered victory for the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the August 15 Osun State governorship election if President Bola Tinubu had wanted the party to win “at all costs.”
Wike had on Tuesday said the Federal Government deliberately allowed the Osun election to run without interference, arguing that the outcome reflected the administration’s decision to permit the electoral process to take its course.
Speaking while inspecting flood-prone areas in Maitama, Abuja, the former Rivers State governor said he could have helped the APC secure victory had President Tinubu given him the mandate to do so.
The claim followed the defeat of APC candidate Bola Oyebamiji by incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke, who contested on the platform of the Accord Party.
Adeleke polled 511,067 votes to defeat Oyebamiji, who secured 444,815 votes, while ADC candidate Najeem Salaam finished third with 17,180 votes. Adeleke won in 19 local government areas, while Oyebamiji prevailed in 11.
Reacting to Wike’s remarks in a terse post on Tuesday, Momodu dismissed the minister’s claim and warned him against portraying himself as an all-powerful political force.
Momodu specifically drew a comparison between Adeleke and Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara, whom Wike had backed politically before their relationship deteriorated into a bitter power struggle.
“OSUN people would have demystified you mercilessly. Adeleke is not Fubara!! My kobo advice, stop equating yourself to GOD,” Momodu wrote.
The exchange comes amid renewed political scrutiny of Wike’s influence following his continued involvement in national political affairs despite remaining a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Wike, a former governor of Rivers State, and Fubara were previously locked in a prolonged political crisis over control of the state, with the dispute eventually affecting Fubara’s political future.
Momodu’s response, however, suggested that the political dynamics in Osun were fundamentally different from those that shaped Wike’s relationship with Fubara in Rivers State.
The latest clash adds another layer to the political fallout from the Osun governorship election, with Wike defending the electoral process and Momodu challenging his assessment of what could have happened had the minister been given a freer hand.
