Lere Olayinka, aide to Minister Nyesom Wike, has suggested that the Peoples Democratic Party may not present a presidential candidate for the 2027 general elections.
Olayinka, who serves as Wike’s Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, linked the possible setback to the ongoing dispute over the party’s National Secretary position, a tussle that has polarized the PDP leadership.
The crisis stems from the controversial return of Senator Samuel Anyanwu, who had vacated the position to contest the Imo State governorship election in 2023.
During his absence, the PDP’s Southeast caucus nominated Sunday Ude-Okoye to act as National Secretary. However, following his loss at the polls, Anyanwu reclaimed the position, a move Ude-Okoye has legally challenged.
Though a High Court initially ruled against Anyanwu, the Supreme Court’s judgment in March further complicated the matter, failing to provide the clarity many had hoped for.
Commenting via his verified X account, Olayinka insisted that Anyanwu remains the valid National Secretary according to the PDP constitution.
“The party constitution and the Supreme Court judgment should be clear enough as to who the National Secretary is,” he said, emphasizing that the deputy can only act in the event of the resignation or death of the substantive secretary.
He warned that the deepening crisis could affect the party’s viability in upcoming elections. “Like I said four months ago, PDP may not field any candidate now, 2026 and 2027,” he stated.
