Wike says he felt like shooting Seun Okinbaloye through the TV over remark on one-party state
By Ishaya Ibrahim
Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike said on Friday that he became so angry while watching Channels Television anchor Seun Okinbaloye that he felt like shooting him through the television screen over comments suggesting Nigeria is doomed democratically under a one-party state.
During his regular media chat with journalists in Abuja on Friday aired live across multiple television networks, Wike described Okinbaloye’s remark as unprofessional and not in line with journalistic standards.
The minister was reacting to Thursday’s edition of Channels Television’s Politics Today programme, which examined the leadership crisis in the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) handling of the matter.
On Wednesday, INEC withdrew recognition of the David Mark-led National Working Committee (NWC) of the ADC, citing a Court of Appeal ruling that ordered parties to maintain the status quo ante bellum. INEC interpreted the ruling as meaning that neither Mark’s faction nor the rival group led by Nafiu Bala Gombe should be recognised. The ADC, however, argued that Mark’s NWC was already in place before the court case and should remain the recognised leadership.
Speaking on the programme, Okinbaloye said: “I’m particularly very pained because what makes the race very interesting is when it’s competitive and not when only one party stands in the middle of the ballot and we are looking for the rest of the political parties.”
He added: “But we get one of them talking tonight about the state of ADC, particularly, it looks like one of the only hopes of the opposition going into 2027. If this hope is dashed, we are doomed democratically speaking.”
Wike reacted strongly, saying the comments were so inappropriate that the journalist “deserves to be shot.”
“I was surprised yesterday — thoroughly surprised,” Wike said. “When I was watching Politics Today, Seun… If there was any way to break the screen, I would have shot him.
“How can you, as an interviewer, say we cannot have only one party? You are an interviewer; you are now telling them your own views.
“There is nothing wrong with asking your interviewee questions. But you are now the one on national television making that kind of statement, which means you have already taken a position.”
