Nyesom Wike’s aide, Lere Olayinka, has launched a fierce verbal attack on former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, criticizing his condemnation of the local government election held on August 30, 2025, in Rivers State.
This controversy reflects the deepening political rivalry and heightens tensions surrounding the state’s political landscape.
Rivers LG Election Results: APC’s Decisive Victory
The Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission announced the election results on August 31, 2025.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) swept 20 of the 23 local government areas (LGAs), leaving the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to clinch only three LGAs.
A total of 2,028,871 votes were cast for chairmanship candidates across the councils.
This electoral dominance marks a pivotal moment in Rivers politics, as APC extends its grip in a state long considered a PDP stronghold.
Atiku’s Criticism: “A Travesty to Democracy”
Reacting promptly after the results, Atiku Abubakar described the election as a “shameful and sham exercise” orchestrated by a powerful “occupation government” intent on subverting the democratic rights of Rivers people.
He accused a “powerful cabal” of manipulating the process to maintain political control, urging opposition parties and Nigerians to reject the election results as illegitimate.
His words depicted the election as a calculated effort to deny the Rivers electorate their true choice.
Atiku further called on the international community and well-meaning Nigerians to watch closely what he termed the dangerous political trajectory under the Bola Tinubu administration.
He expressed solidarity with Rivers residents, who, he claimed, have become victims of systemic political brigandry designed to quash their democratic voices.
Wike’s Aide Responds with Scathing Rebuke
Lere Olayinka, Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications to Minister Nyesom Wike, responded on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) with biting sarcasm.
He dismissed Atiku’s condemnation as “nonsensical nonsense” and labeled the former vice president a “permanent presidential campaigner,” implying that Atiku’s criticisms stem from frustration over repeated presidential defeats rather than genuine public interest.
Olayinka also questioned Atiku’s moral authority to lecture on democracy given his past actions.
He referenced Atiku’s controversial deletion of a tweet condemning the murder of Deborah in Sokoto, dismissing him as someone lacking the courage to stand against outright injustice.
According to Olayinka, such a figure has no standing to criticize legitimate electoral processes.
The Sokoto Murder Tweet Controversy
The reference to the Sokoto incident is a direct jab at Atiku’s inconsistent public stances on critical issues, used here to amplify claims that his opposition to the Rivers election is politically motivated rather than principled.
Olayinka’s statement painted Atiku as selectively vocal, bold only when politically convenient but silent or evasive when confronted with stark human rights abuses.
Political Rivalry Intensifies Ahead of 2027
This latest exchange underscores the intensifying political rivalry within the opposition camp, especially between Atiku Abubakar and Nyesom Wike, two heavyweights vying for prominence ahead of the 2027 presidential elections.
His aide’s comments reflect a broader campaign to undermine Atiku’s credibility and question his fitness to continue his political pursuits.
Rivers State: A Political Battleground
Rivers’ local government elections have historically been a flashpoint for Nigeria’s larger political battles.
The APC’s notable success in the August 30 polls has sent shockwaves through political circles in Port Harcourt and beyond.
Critics argue that the elections were marred by governmental interference and coercion, while APC supporters hail the results as a genuine shift in political allegiance.
The Election’s Broader Implications
The election results and subsequent reactions reveal more than just local government contest outcomes; they expose the fault lines of Nigeria’s national political terrain.
Atiku’s refusal to accept the polls shows the fragility of the democracy as practiced in some states and the ongoing struggle between Nigeria’s ruling and opposition parties.
Meanwhile, Wike’s aide slams Atiku, calls him Permanent Presidential Runner camp portrays the elections as a testament to the people’s desire for change, highlighting the repeated failures of PDP’s leadership in the state.
The controversy feeds into narratives about democracy, governance, and political manipulation issues that resonate deeply with Nigerian citizens frustrated by systemic corruption and election irregularities.
A Controversial Election, A Divided Political Landscape
Atiku Abubakar’s call to reject the election summons skepticism about the electoral process, while Wike’s aides frame his denunciations as politically motivated attacks lacking moral clarity.
These events reiterate the volatile and contentious nature of Nigerian politics, where political ambitions and allegiances frequently lead to scathing public exchanges.
As the 2027 elections approach, the battle for influence and control within key states like Rivers will likely intensify, with significant implications for the country’s democracy.
