2027: Peter Obi’s NDC Knows It Can’t Win Election – Wike’s Aide Lere Olayinka

Media aide to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, Lere Olayinka, has claimed that the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) and its presidential candidate, Peter Obi, are aware that they cannot defeat the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 presidential election.

Olayinka made the claim on Friday while appearing on Arise TV’s Morning Show, where he questioned the opposition party’s nationwide political structure and electoral preparedness.

According to him, NDC candidates are participating in the 2027 election mainly to establish their presence rather than with a realistic expectation of winning.

“Even NDC, the party of Peter Obi, they know they cannot win the election. They are just contesting to try to register their presence,” Olayinka said.

The Wike aide argued that the party’s alleged inability to field governorship candidates in several states was evidence of its limited political reach ahead of the election.

“You don’t have a governorship candidate in 15 states. You only have in 13,” he said.

Olayinka also referred to the recent governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun, claiming that the NDC did not field candidates in the two states. He questioned how a party could successfully win a presidential election without sufficient grassroots structures to mobilise voters and monitor the electoral process.

“There was an election in Ekiti and Osun recently, NDC did not field candidates. How do you win an election when you don’t have people on ground to canvass votes for you, to manage elections for you?” he asked.

His comments come amid growing political activity ahead of the 2027 general elections, with Peter Obi emerging as the NDC’s presidential candidate and opposition groups seeking to challenge President Bola Tinubu’s bid for another term.

Olayinka, however, expressed confidence that Tinubu, who is seeking re-election on the APC platform, would win the presidential contest.

The remarks are likely to fuel debate within opposition circles over the importance of nationwide party structures, grassroots mobilisation and the ability of emerging political platforms to compete effectively against established parties in the 2027 election.