ABUJA, Nigeria — Former presidential candidate and Ovation magazine publisher, Dele Momodu, has levelled explosive allegations against Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), claiming that Wike paid as much as $30,000 per delegate during the 2022 Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential primaries.
Speaking on Channels Television’s flagship programme Politics Today on Monday, July 7, 2025, Momodu claimed that a former Nigerian president privately warned him against participating in the primaries, citing Wike’s unprecedented financial influence on delegates.
“A former president of Nigeria sent someone to tell me not to waste my money on the PDP 2022 primaries because Wike had raised the stakes to $30k per delegate; $30k multiplied by 774 delegates,” Momodu revealed.
Both Momodu and Wike were aspirants in the 2022 PDP presidential race, which was ultimately won by Atiku Abubakar, the former Vice President.
Momodu described Wike’s post-election transformation as disturbing, accusing the former Rivers State governor of being consumed by power and wealth.
“When a man who had been a nobody gets power, he begins to change slowly and steadily,” Momodu said.
He pointed to Wike’s prior deference to Rotimi Amaechi, his political predecessor and former ally, as evidence of the minister’s altered character.
“The oppressed man respects only one man: the oppressor. Wike used to respect only one man—Rotimi Amaechi.”
Perhaps most controversially, Momodu alleged that Wike has developed a habit of heavy drinking, even during official duties.
“He drinks early in the morning. He introduced me to Akkeshi, a strong alcohol, saying it helps him function. This is someone in public office,” Momodu claimed.
He described the influence of unchecked power and money on Wike as “demonic” and “dangerous,” urging President Bola Tinubu to reconsider his support for Wike ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“My appeal to President Tinubu is that no matter what you are expecting to gain from Wike in 2027, Wike is not the kind of character you should promote,” Momodu warned.
“He is not the kind of young man who should hijack our common patrimony.”
As of press time, Nyesom Wike has not publicly responded to the allegations.