Media aide to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, Lere Olayinka, has challenged the widely held perception that the presidential candidate of the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, does not spend money to pursue elective office.
Olayinka made the claim during an appearance on AIT’s Democracy Today programme on Friday, September 4, while responding to a question about whether politics was a business for Wike.
According to him, politicians should stop pretending that money does not play a role in Nigerian politics, arguing that candidates routinely spend money during consultations, party primaries and election campaigns.
“One of the issues with most of us Nigerians, we like to pretend, politics is business. Don’t let us pretend. It’s a service but you can only serve when you get to power,” he said.
Olayinka, who said he contested a House of Representatives seat in 2023, argued that financial spending was also part of the political process, particularly during party primaries.
“Why do politicians spend money? Will anybody tell me why politicians in this country, even outside Nigeria, in US, everywhere; don’t they spend money to campaign? They spend money to seek election,” he said.
‘Peter Obi does not spend shishi? It’s a lie’
Speaking specifically about Obi, Olayinka disputed the narrative that the former Anambra State governor does not give money during political engagements.
“For instance, we have read that the candidate of NDC, Peter Obi, does not spend shishi. It’s a lie,” Olayinka said.
He claimed that he personally witnessed Obi distributing money to delegates while he was still a presidential aspirant under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
“I was a delegate in Ekiti when he was in PDP before going to Labour Party. He came to Ekiti. He dropped money for delegates. From the money he dropped, they gave me my own in 2022,” he said.
Olayinka, however, acknowledged that the amount Obi allegedly distributed may have been smaller than what some other presidential aspirants gave to delegates.
“The money might be smaller than what other people gave, but he gave money,” he said.
The allegation comes amid continuing debate over campaign financing and the role of money in Nigerian politics, particularly as political parties and aspirants begin positioning themselves ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Olayinka’s claim about Obi’s alleged payment to delegates could not be independently verified from the information available in his remarks.