Lere Olayinka, spokesperson for FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, has dismissed the chances of several presidential candidates in the 2027 election, arguing that some are not contesting to win but merely to “register their presence.”
Olayinka cited Omoyele Sowore’s 14,600 votes in 2023 and Peter Obi’s NDC party’s lack of grassroots structure as evidence that many candidates cannot realistically win.
A Blunt Assessment of the 2027 Race
ValidViewNetwork gathered that Lere Olayinka, the spokesperson to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has delivered a blunt assessment of the 2027 presidential race, arguing that some candidates are not contesting to win but merely to “register their presence” and make an impression.
Olayinka made the statement during an interview on Arise News on Friday, September 4, 2026, while discussing the political landscape ahead of the 2027 general election.
“Not Everybody That Contests Wants to Win”
Olayinka said the number of presidential candidates on the ballot did not necessarily mean that all of them were contesting with the mindset of winning.
“So it is not everybody that contests elections that wants to win. There are people that contest elections just to register their presence. For instance, in this 2027 election, we have 19 presidential candidates. Can we say honestly that all the 19 are contesting with the mindset of winning? The answer is no,” he said.
Using Sowore as an Example
Olayinka cited the 2023 performance of the African Action Congress presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, as an example of why he believed some candidates could not realistically win the presidential election.
“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. They are just contesting,” he said.
Extending the Argument to Peter Obi’s NDC
He also extended his argument to the party of former Anambra State governor and 2023 presidential candidate Peter Obi.
“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.
According to him, a party’s grassroots structure and presence across states would be critical to its ability to compete effectively in a presidential election.
“You don’t have a governorship candidate in 15 states. You only have it in 13. There was an election in Ekiti and Osun recently. NDC did not fit 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.
The Numbers Game
Olayinka said political parties needed substantial personnel at polling units to effectively manage their operations on election day.
“In Nigeria today, there are 176,846 polling units. To make good impression on election day, you need at least five people to manage each polling unit for you. At least. You need five people. We have done elections before, so we know what it is. It is not about making noise,” he said.
A Political Dimension
The interview had a political dimension, coming just hours after Olayinka’s clash with Arise TV anchor Rufai Oseni, where he refused to answer questions about the inclusion of embattled former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs Betta Edu in President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 campaign council.
A Lesson for Nigerian Youths
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Olayinka’s assessment of the 2027 race is a reminder that winning elections requires more than social media buzz.
The same politicians who dismiss opposition parties will never allow their own children to run a campaign without a solid grassroots structure.
Their children are taught to build from the ground up.
For young Nigerians, the lesson is clear: do not be deceived by social media noise. Real political power is built on the ground, at polling units, in communities, through thousands of agents and coordinators.
The same politicians who make noise online will never allow their own children to rely on social media alone to win elections.
Build real structures. Engage with communities. And never forget that elections are won on the ground, not on social media.
