Dele Momodu: Wike Bribed Delegates with $30,000 in PDP’s 2022 Presidential Primaries

Publisher and former presidential aspirant Dele Momodu has accused ex-Rivers governor and serving Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike, of handing out US$30,000 per delegate during the Peoples Democratic Party’s May 2022 presidential primaries 

Speaking on a Channels Television programme at the weekend, Momodu said he received the figure from two delegates who confirmed they took the cash.

“A former president of Nigeria sent someone to tell me not to waste my money on the PDP 2022 primaries because Wike had raised the stakes to $30k per delegate; $30k multiplied by 774 delegates,” he said.

Momodu added that Wike also covered the hotel bills, transportation, and other logistics for many state delegations, yet still finished a distant second to Atiku Abubakar, who eventually became the party’s flag-bearer.

Momodu added: “What I expected of him was that if you weren’t going to support a man, if you’re going to run, run a fair race, and let’s leave it there.”

The publisher framed the episode as proof that Nigeria’s party primaries have become “auctions, not elections” and warned that the practice entrenches corruption before the public office is even won. 

In Dele Momodu’s words: 

“When a man who had been a nobody gets power, he begins to change slowly and steadily. 

“The oppressed man respects only one man: the oppressor. Wike used to respect only one man—Rotimi Amaechi.

“Wike is consumed by the power he holds. The spirit of power and money is demonic when not managed properly.

“He drinks early in the morning. He introduced me to Akeshi, a strong alcohol, saying it helps him function. This is someone in public office.

“My appeal to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is that no matter what you are expecting to gain from Wike in 2027, Wike is not the kind of character you should promote; he is not the kind of young man who should hijack our common patrimony.”