Lere Olayinka, media aide to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has challenged the perception that Peter Obi does not spend money in pursuing political office.
Olayinka alleged that Obi gave money to delegates while seeking the presidential ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ahead of the 2023 election.
He made the claim on AIT’s Democracy Today programme on Friday while discussing whether politics should be regarded as a business, particularly in relation to Wike’s political career.
According to him, politicians should stop pretending that money does not play a role in Nigerian politics, arguing that candidates spend money during consultations, party primaries and election campaigns.
Olayinka, who contested for a seat in the House of Representatives in 2023, said spending money was part of the political process, particularly during party primaries.
He specifically rejected claims that Obi, who is now the presidential candidate of the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC), does not give money to political stakeholders.
“For instance, we have read that the candidate of NDC, Peter Obi, does not spend shishi. It’s a lie,” he said.
Olayinka claimed he personally witnessed Obi distributing money to delegates during his time as a presidential aspirant in the PDP.
“I was a delegate in Ekiti when he was in PDP before going to Labour Party. He came to Ekiti. He dropped money for delegates. From the money he dropped, they gave me my own in 2022,” he said.
He, however, acknowledged that the amount allegedly given by Obi might have been less than what some other presidential aspirants offered.
“The money might be smaller than what other people gave, but he gave money,” Olayinka said.
Obi contested the 2023 presidential election on the platform of the Labour Party after leaving the PDP, where he had sought the party’s presidential ticket.
He has since moved to the NDC ahead of the 2027 presidential election, as opposition politicians continue to position themselves for another contest against President Bola Tinubu.