‘IS ATIKU STILL CONTESTING?’ – WIKE’S AIDE QUESTIONS ADC’S 2027 PREPAREDNESS
Read Time:2 Minute, 39 Second
By: Fasasi Hammad
The Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Lere Olayinka, has questioned the preparedness and campaign visibility of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) ahead of the 2027 presidential election, asking whether its presidential hopeful, Atiku Abubakar, is still in the race.
Olayinka raised the concerns during an interview on AIT’s Democracy Today on Monday, arguing that the opposition party had yet to demonstrate sufficient campaign activities and public presence ahead of the election.
“I’m only seeing one person contesting. I’m not seeing other people. On social media, I asked a question like 30 minutes ago: Is Atiku Abubakar still contesting?” he said.
Asked whether his concerns were connected to the ADC’s failure to formally launch its campaign, Olayinka said the issue went beyond campaign inauguration, stressing the importance of visibility and practical mobilisation.
“It’s not about launching campaign. It’s about the optics. It’s about feasibility,” he added.
Olayinka, who described himself as a journalist and politician with experience in electoral contests, said his participation in a keenly contested party primary had given him an understanding of the electoral process.
He disclosed that he won his primary by about nine votes, describing the exercise as highly competitive.
The FCT minister’s aide also questioned what Atiku was doing differently from President Bola Tinubu in terms of campaign mobilisation.
He cited the recent political engagements of FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, who he said had been visiting communities across the FCT and Rivers State.
Olayinka noted that with the election scheduled for January 2027, only about two months remained as of November 2, stressing that political parties should be actively mobilising support.
According to him, Wike had visited Bonny, Tai, Oyigbo and Eleme local government areas of Rivers State within 10 days, while a rally was also held in Port Harcourt to unveil candidates of the Rainbow Coalition.
He further listed Wike’s visits to Gwagwalada, Bwari, Abuja Municipal Area Council and Kuje, adding that the minister was expected to visit Kwali and Abaji.
“What is happening in the opposition circle? What is happening?” Olayinka queried.
The former aspirant, who said he is from Ekiti State and resides in Abuja, also questioned the ADC’s political presence in both locations.
“Have you seen ADC doing anything in the FCT? The answer is no. Have I seen ADC in my state? The answer is no,” he said.
Olayinka compared the ADC’s activities with the Rainbow Coalition, which he said was mobilising support for Tinubu across party lines.
He cited Osun State, where he claimed Governor Ademola Adeleke of the Accord Party had established a campaign council comprising members of the Peoples Democratic Party, Accord Party, All Progressives Congress and other political parties.
He also referenced Anambra State, where he said Governor Chukwuma Soludo of the All Progressives Grand Alliance had formed a campaign council involving members of APGA, APC, PDP and other parties.
Olayinka maintained that similar arrangements were being made in other states, arguing that opposition parties needed to improve their campaign visibility and mobilisation ahead of the 2027 general election.
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