The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has sparked outrage after reacting angrily to comments made by Channels Television anchor, Seun Okinbaloye, over fears of a one-party system in Nigeria.
The minister, during a media interaction in Abuja, said “he would have shot” the journalist over remarks made on national television, drawing widespread attention and criticism.
The controversy began after Okinbaloye, speaking on Thursday’s edition of Politics Today, raised concerns about the direction of Nigeria’s democracy.
He warned that the weakening of opposition parties could harm the country’s political balance ahead of the 2027 elections.
“I am particularly pained because what makes the race very interesting is when it is competitive, not only one party stands in the middle of the ballot and you’re looking for the rest of the political parties. When some of us talk, it looks like our mouth is smelling. And we have been on this ground for a while.
“There are lot of experienced men in the ADC that should have seen the devil in some of the issues that have been raised in the past months. Particularly, it looks like one of the hopes of the opposition going into 2027. If this hope is dashed, we are doomed democratically,” the anchor stated.
His comments came amid the growing crisis within the African Democratic Congress (ADC), following the decision by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to derecognise the party’s leadership after a court ruling.
The development has triggered fresh debates about the future of opposition politics in the country.
Reacting a day later, Wike expressed anger over the journalist’s position. He accused Okinbaloye of crossing professional boundaries by sharing personal opinions during an interview.
“I was thoroughly surprised yesterday. When I was watching Seun’s Politics Today. If there is anyway to break the screen, I would have shot him. How can an interviewer say we cannot allow one-party state,” the minister stated.
Wike, however, tried to soften his statement by clarifying that he did not mean it literally. He said his reaction was driven by frustration, insisting that journalists must remain neutral while performing their duties.
“You are now telling them your own view, as an interviewer, that you can’t allow one-party state. I was just taken aback. I am not saying I will kill him. I am just angered that he made that kind of statement on a national television. This is not the kind of journalism I have seen people do.
“The point I am trying to make is that as an interviewer asking question, there is nothing wrong to ask (opposition members) how they would have allowed this to happen. You are now the one whom in a national television making that kind of position, which is not right. That is the point I am trying to make.”
Meanwhile, reactions continue to trail INEC’s stance on the ADC leadership crisis. While some Nigerians believe the electoral body acted in line with the law, others argue that the move weakens opposition forces and strengthens the ruling party’s dominance.
Despite the setback, the ADC has insisted it will move ahead with its planned congresses. The party described INEC’s position as questionable and vowed not to back down.
In response, the presidency has taken a hard stance. It labelled the party’s decision as “lawless” and warned that there would be consequences if it proceeds against the directive.
