In a war of words that has sparked political outrage across the country, Lere Olayinka, the Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, has launched a blistering attack on the Bauchi State Governor, Senator Bala Mohammed. Olayinka minced no words in his response, declaring that the governor’s 2027 presidential ambition was “dead on arrival.”
Olayinka’s comments came after Governor Mohammed’s public criticism of Barrister Nyesom Wike, the current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) under the administration of President Bola Tinubu. Wike’s appointment has drawn ire from several quarters, including Mohammed, who questioned the integrity of the PDP stalwart, insinuating that his new role in the APC government should force him to consider leaving the opposition party.
In a fiery statement released yesterday, Olayinka didn’t just defend Wike, but launched a direct assault on the character and political future of Bala Mohammed. “As for us, we are done with any object by the name Bala Mohammed. Reason is, we have better things to do and we won’t be available to be used by any ineffectual being to launch a dead-on-arrival 2027 presidential ambition,” Olayinka stated unequivocally.
The feud between the two PDP leaders has been brewing for weeks, as both have taken shots at each other publicly. Governor Mohammed, who once held a ministerial position under the Goodluck Jonathan administration, has recently made a series of remarks questioning Wike’s loyalty to the opposition party, suggesting that his current role as Minister under President Tinubu—a former opposition figure—is a betrayal of PDP’s values.
Olayinka was quick to remind the public of the irony in Mohammed’s accusations. “Bala Mohammed, who was a Senator under the ANPP, didn’t hesitate to join the PDP and accept a ministerial role under President Jonathan,” he said. “If Wike has sold out by joining the Tinubu-led government, then what does that make Bala Mohammed? A man who has switched parties like a chameleon?”
The FCT minister’s aide went on to list several other notable politicians who had served in opposing administrations without abandoning their political principles. “Let’s not forget that members of opposition parties have served in government before without their integrity being questioned. Late Chief Bola Ige, a member of the Alliance for Democracy (AD), served as a minister under the PDP. Dr. Olu Agunloye, another AD member, also served in the same government. Even Ibrahim Dasuki Nakande, a member of the ANPP, was a minister under the PDP government of late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua,” Olayinka noted.
While Olayinka’s comments were pointed, they were also aimed at portraying Mohammed as a flip-flopper, accusing him of lacking true political ideology. “Bala Mohammed’s political career has been defined by convenience,” Olayinka charged. “He is the textbook example of ‘anywhere-belly-face’ politics. If he was offered a Special Assistant position by the APC in 2015, there’s no doubt he would have jumped at the opportunity and defected again.”
The tension between the two political figures reached a fever pitch when Mohammed publicly called for Wike to resign from the PDP and focus entirely on his ministerial role. The Bauchi governor, while speaking on the matter, emphasized that Wike’s continued membership in the opposition party while holding a prominent position in the APC undermined his integrity. However, Olayinka swiftly shot back, accusing Mohammed of hypocrisy.
“It’s laughable that Bala Mohammed, a man who once held a ministerial position in a government he wasn’t originally a part of, would now criticize Wike for doing the same,” Olayinka quipped. “Bala must remember that, like him, Wike was once a member of the PDP. His current role as a minister should not be an issue—especially coming from a man who has no real loyalty to any political cause.”
The escalating conflict has put the PDP at odds with its own leadership, as prominent figures within the party continue to take sides in the dispute. Olayinka’s remarks are just the latest in a series of public exchanges between the two men, with each trying to position themselves as the leader who can steer the PDP to success in future elections.
Critics of Olayinka’s stance, however, suggest that his hard-hitting rhetoric might only deepen divisions within the opposition party. “This kind of infighting only weakens the party’s unity,” said a political analyst speaking on condition of anonymity. “With the 2027 elections fast approaching, PDP needs a unified front to pose a real challenge to the ruling APC. If they keep attacking each other, they may find themselves with a fractured base, which will only play into the hands of their rivals.”
But supporters of Olayinka, especially those loyal to Wike, argue that his defense of the FCT minister is justified. “Wike has been a staunch advocate for the PDP’s success, and his role in the Tinubu administration doesn’t change that. The constant attacks from Bala Mohammed are merely a distraction,” said a member of the PDP National Working Committee (NWC), who wished to remain unnamed.
