The Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Lere Olayinka, has dismissed the growing list of presidential aspirants ahead of the 2027 general elections, describing many of them as “content creators” who are not contesting to win but to remain visible.
Olayinka, who also serves as Spokesperson of the Directorate of Media and Strategic Communications of the All Progressives Congress, APC, and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu Presidential Campaign Council, PCC, made the remarks on Thursday while appearing as a guest on TVC’s flagship political programme, Beyond The Headlines
Speaking on the state of the opposition, Olayinka argued that the presence of about 19 presidential candidates does not translate to a competitive race against incumbent President Bola Tinubu, whom he said has a verifiable record of performance and a national political structure.
According to him, most opposition figures are only seeking to register their presence on the ballot paper rather than mounting a serious challenge for the presidency.
Attacks Atiku Over Eight Presidential Bids
Olayinka singled out former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who is now flying the flag of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, for his repeated bids for the presidency. He described Atiku’s eighth attempt as evidence of a personal ambition that has persisted since 1993.
“Someone who started contesting for president since 1993… this is his eighth time. Anytime the whistle is blown, if today they say there should be election of president every month, Atiku would be contesting every month,” Olayinka said.
He also accused Atiku of inconsistency on policy matters, recalling that the former Vice President described fuel subsidy as a fraud in 2022, but later advocated for its restoration during the 2023 campaign season.
Peter Obi Is A Content Creator – Olayinka
On Mr. Peter Obi, former Governor of Anambra State and now presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, Olayinka described him as a politician who thrives on social media trends rather than consistency.
“Peter Obi is more like a content creator — he says something today, he says another thing tomorrow,” he stated.
Olayinka questioned Obi’s ability to manage a complex nation like Nigeria, citing his history of switching political parties amid crises. Obi, who was in APGA, later moved to the PDP, then to the Labour Party in 2023, and is now in the NDC, has been criticized by opponents for party-hopping.
“Someone who has not been able to manage an ordinary political party… does that mean if he becomes president and there is a problem in Nigeria, he will run and go to Cameroon?” Olayinka queried.
Sowore Got 14,600 Votes – How Will He Win?
The FCT Minister’s aide also took a swipe at human rights activist and publisher, Omoyele Sowore, who is seeking the presidency for the third time under the African Action Congress, AAC.
Olayinka cited Sowore’s performance in the 2023 election where he polled 14,608 votes according to INEC results, arguing that such electoral history does not suggest capacity to defeat Tinubu in 2027.
“For instance, the candidate of AAC, Omoyele Sowore, had 14,600 votes in 2023. How would that person win the election next year? They know that they cannot win,” he said.
He insisted that electoral success goes beyond online popularity.
“It is not everybody that contests elections that wants to win. There are people that contest elections just to register their presence,” he said.
Olayinka also questioned the grassroots strength of the NDC and other smaller parties, arguing that winning a presidential election in Nigeria requires a broad national structure, polling unit agents in 176,000 polling units, and massive mobilisation machinery, not just social media visibility.
Speaking on the APC’s own preparations and the much-talked-about rainbow coalition, Olayinka said there is no confusion in the ruling party’s camp, insisting that alliances are being built across states to consolidate Tinubu’s re-election bid.
He cited the cooperation between the APC and the Accord Party in Osun State and other political groups as part of a deliberate strategy to strengthen the President’s support base.
“APC in Osun State and Accord Party are working together. It is a coalition. They are working to deliver votes to the president,” Olayinka explained.
He expressed confidence that the APC’s coalition-building efforts and grassroots mobilisation would give Tinubu an edge, noting that the administration has tangible projects to campaign with.
Olayinka pointed to road construction, urban renewal, and ongoing reforms in the FCT under Minister Nyesom Wike as evidence of the administration’s commitment to development, arguing that the opposition has failed to present a coherent alternative, relying instead on sentiments and social media trends.
The comments have since generated reactions on social media, with supporters of the opposition candidates accusing the Tinubu camp of underrating the opposition, while APC supporters hailed Olayinka for stating what they described as “hard truth.”
The 2027 presidential election is expected to be keenly contested, with INEC yet to release the final list of political parties and candidates, even as horse-trading and coalition talks intensify across the country.
