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Politicians in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) can support President Bola Tinubu’s re-election in 2027 while contesting against his All Progressives Congress (APC) in other elections, according to Lere Olayinka, spokesperson for the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
Olayinka insisted that backing Tinubu at the presidential level does not amount to anti-party activity or require politicians to abandon their respective parties.
Speaking on TVC News’ Beyond The Headlines on Thursday, October 22, he defended the growing alliance between the President and politicians outside the ruling APC.
“For the first time in history of politics in this country, the people from other parties are now supporting him. So, it’s not anti-party,” Olayinka said.
He explained that political support for Tinubu’s presidential ambition should be separated from contests for governorship, National Assembly and state Houses of Assembly seats.
According to him, politicians can agree on a presidential candidate while maintaining their individual party loyalties and pursuing different interests in other elections.
Olayinka argued that political considerations vary across states, constituencies and local government areas, making it possible for politicians to cooperate at the presidential level without forming a permanent alliance.
The former Ekiti State political aide also claimed that the PDP leadership had acknowledged support for Tinubu.
“PDP has come out only to say, we are backing this person,” he stated.
His remarks come amid growing debate over Wike’s involvement in Tinubu’s re-election campaign despite remaining a prominent member of the PDP.
The FCT minister has repeatedly declared his support for the President, maintaining that his political alliance does not prevent the PDP from fielding candidates in other elections.
Wike was also appointed to Tinubu’s expanded presidential campaign council, alongside other prominent politicians from outside the APC.
However, support for Tinubu remains a contentious issue within the PDP.
On Tuesday, October 20, the Tanimu Turaki-led faction of the party rejected any alliance with the APC, insisting that its members would not support the President’s re-election.
The faction argued that the proposed cross-party arrangement threatened the independence of opposition parties.
In contrast, officials aligned with the Abdulrahman Mohammed-led PDP leadership have defended Wike’s cooperation with Tinubu.
Olayinka’s latest comments reinforce the position that supporting the President should not automatically determine which parties or candidates politicians support in other contests.
The arrangement would allow PDP politicians backing Tinubu to continue seeking victories over APC candidates in governorship and legislative elections, even while campaigning for the same presidential candidate.
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