Lere Olayinka, media aide to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has claimed that some politicians preparing to contest the 2027 presidential election are not realistically aiming to win the presidency.
Olayinka made the remarks during an interview on Arise News on Friday while discussing the political activities ahead of the 2027 general elections.
According to him, the number of presidential candidates in the race should not automatically be interpreted as an indication that all of them have a genuine expectation of emerging victorious.
He noted that Nigeria currently has 19 presidential candidates expected to contest the election, but argued that some may be participating mainly to establish their political presence and gain visibility.
Olayinka said political participation could serve different purposes, adding that not every candidate enters an election with the same level of ambition or electoral strength.
He used the 2023 performance of African Action Congress (AAC) candidate Omoyele Sowore as an example, pointing out that Sowore received 14,600 votes in the last presidential election.
Olayinka questioned whether such an electoral performance could realistically translate into victory in the 2027 presidential contest.
He also questioned the chances of Peter Obi, who is expected to contest under the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), arguing that political popularity alone would not be enough to secure victory at the national level.
The Wike aide said a presidential candidate needs a strong political structure across the country, particularly at the grassroots, to compete effectively during an election.
He pointed to the number of states where NDC reportedly has governorship candidates, arguing that a limited presence could make it difficult for the party to build the nationwide structure required for a presidential victory.
Olayinka further stressed the importance of having party officials and supporters at polling units to canvass votes and monitor the electoral process.
According to him, Nigeria has 176,846 polling units, meaning that political parties seeking to establish a strong presence on election day would require a significant number of personnel across the country.
He argued that political campaigns should therefore go beyond public speeches, media visibility and social media activity.
For Olayinka, electoral success depends heavily on organisation, grassroots mobilisation and the ability of a political party to maintain a presence across different parts of the country.
His comments come as political activities intensify ahead of the 2027 presidential election, with several politicians and political parties already positioning themselves for the contest.
The remarks are also likely to generate reactions from supporters of the opposition candidates mentioned, particularly as preparations for the 2027 election continue to gather momentum.
