Peter Obi's 2027 Campaign: Debunking the 'No Shishi' Myth

Lere Olayinka, the media aide to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has challenged the common belief that Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC), is a politician who refrains from spending money in pursuit of elective office. Olayinka accused the former governor of Anambra State of providing financial incentives to delegates while vying for the presidential ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the lead-up to the 2023 election. He made these remarks during his appearance on AIT’s Democracy Today program on Friday, September 4, when asked if Wike views politics as a business. According to Olayinka, it is time for politicians to stop pretending that money does not influence Nigerian politics, asserting that candidates frequently invest money during consultations, party primaries, and election campaigns. "One of the issues with most of us Nigerians is that we like to pretend; politics is business. Let’s not kid ourselves. It’s a service, but you can only serve when you attain power," he stated. Olayinka mentioned that he ran for a House of Representatives seat in 2023, emphasizing that financial expenditure is also a crucial aspect of the primary election process. "Why do politicians spend money? Can anyone explain why politicians in this country, and even abroad, like in the US, do not spend money on campaigns? They do spend money to seek election," he questioned. Addressing the narrative surrounding Obi, he refuted the claim that the 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate refrains from giving money during political activities. "For example, we have heard that the NDC candidate, Peter Obi, does not spend a dime. That’s false," Olayinka asserted. He claimed to have personally observed Obi distributing funds to delegates during his candidacy under the PDP. "I was a delegate in Ekiti when he was with the PDP before transitioning to the Labour Party. He came to Ekiti. He contributed funds for delegates. From the amount he contributed, I received my share in 2022,” he stated. Olayinka, however, recognized that Obi’s expenditures might have been less than those of some other presidential candidates. “The amount may be smaller than what others provided, but he did contribute,” he remarked. Obi ran for the presidency in 2023 under the Labour Party after departing from the PDP, where he initially pursued the party’s presidential nomination. As the 2027 election approaches, he has transitioned to the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC).