The publisher of Ovation magazine and former presidential aspirant, Dele Momodu, has alleged that the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, paid as much as $30,000 per delegate during the 2022 Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential primary.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Monday, Momodu, who contested alongside Wike in the primary eventually won by former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, claimed that the scale of the monetary inducement was staggering.
“A former president of Nigeria sent someone to tell me not to waste my money on the PDP 2022 primaries because Wike had raised the stakes to $30,000 per delegate; $30,000 multiplied by 774 delegates,” Momodu alleged during the interview.
He criticized Wike’s conduct in the primaries, suggesting the process was neither fair nor democratic.
“What I expected of him was that if you weren’t going to support a man, if you’re going to run, run a fair race, and let’s leave it there,” he said.
The Ovation publisher also expressed concern about Wike’s transformation since becoming FCT minister, describing it as troubling.
He alleged that Wike, once humble and respectful towards his political mentors like former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, has changed significantly due to political power.
“When a man who had been a nobody gets power, he begins to change slowly and steadily,” Momodu said.
“The oppressed man respects only one man: the oppressor. Wike used to respect only one man—Rotimi Amaechi.”
Momodu further alleged that Wike has developed a heavy drinking habit since assuming office as minister.
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“Wike is consumed by the power he holds. The spirit of power and money is demonic when not managed properly,” Momodu claimed.
“He drinks early in the morning. He introduced me to Akeshi, a strong alcohol, saying it helps him function. This is someone in public office.”
Momodu concluded by appealing to President Bola Tinubu to reconsider his political relationship with Wike, warning that Wike is not the type of leader who should be entrusted with significant power or influence heading into the 2027 elections.
“My appeal to President Bola Tinubu is that no matter what you are expecting to gain from Wike in 2027, Wike is not the kind of character you should promote; he is not the kind of young man who should hijack our common patrimony,” he added.
