Dele Momodu, the publisher of Ovation magazine and a former presidential aspirant, has claimed that Nyesom Wike, minister of the federal capital territory, offered $30,000 per delegate during the Peoples Democratic Party 2022 presidential primaries.

Both Momodu and Wike participated in the 2022 PDP primaries, which saw former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar emerge as the party’s candidate.

Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Monday, Momodu said a former Nigerian president had advised him not to take part in the primaries due to the large sums Wike was offering to delegates.

“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.

“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.”

Momodu described Wike’s behaviour since becoming FCT minister as alarming.

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

He also noted that Wike, who used to show respect to Rotimi Amaechi, the former minister of transportation, has changed significantly.

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

The Ovation publisher further alleged that Wike has developed a serious drinking problem.

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

“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,” he added.

Garba Shehu, the spokesperson for former President Muhammadu Buhari, has stated that there is no conflict between Buhari and President Bola Tinubu.

During an interview on Trust TV’s 30 Minutes, Shehu described the rumours of a strained relationship between both leaders as mere speculation without any official basis.

“When people are entitled to hold their own opinion, and your own interpretation of it is purely your own entitlement,” he said.

“I don’t think in a formal and official sense anybody would talk about distrust or mistrust or a façade between the Buhari administration and the Tinubu administration.”

Shehu explained that Buhari remains committed to the All Progressives Congress, the party that brought him to power after three failed presidential bids.

“For Muhammadu Buhari, for him, he’s essentially an APC member,” he said.

“He does not forget the fact that he ran one, two, three times and failed to get the presidency until they cobbled together the APC.

“APC came together and gave him two terms, for which he has remained grateful, and says—and that’s what I’ve learnt from him—‘I will never be ungrateful. I will never betray the party that gave me two terms in office.’”

Reacting to discussions about alleged internal tensions in the ruling party, Shehu said Buhari’s camp is unbothered by such claims.

“We see statements; we read them when people say these things. Do we get disturbed? I don’t think that is the word,” he said.

He also noted that those who were part of the process that formed the APC in 2014 are unlikely to take actions that would destabilise it now.

“It took a lot of doing, energy, and sacrifice for the APC to have been put in place, for the desperate opposition elements to come together,” he said.

“They tried one, two, three times, and they failed. But by this time, they came together in 2014, formed a party, and ran in 2014. They won.

“Which means, in effect, that the people who were around, who saw how much sweat it took to build this coalition—I think they are not likely to be the ones who are trying to fracture it.”

Federal troops stationed in Plateau State have apprehended a suspected bandit who was allegedly plotting to attack unsuspecting travellers in the Gashish District of Barkin Ladi Local Government Area.

Reports revealed that the suspect was caught on Sunday night while hiding in an ambush spot along the Kafi Abu-Rakwok Road.

The spokesperson for Operation Safe Haven, Maj Samson Zhakom, confirmed the incident in a statement on Monday.

According to him, troops recovered a fabricated AK-47 rifle, an AK-47 magazine, and 30 rounds of 7.62mm (special) ammunition from the suspect during the arrest.

The suspect, along with the recovered weapon and ammunition, is currently in military custody for further investigation and necessary action.

The statement read, “On July 6, 2025, troops of 3 Division/Operation Safe Haven on night patrol along Kafi Abu-Rakwok Road in the Gashish District in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State intercepted a suspected militia.

The suspect was arrested wJAIhile in ambush position with possible intent of attacking unsuspecting commuters in the area. Items recovered from the suspect include one fabricated AK-47 rifle, one AK-47 magazine and 30 rounds of 7.62 mm (special) ammunition.

The suspect and recovered weapon and ammunition are in the custody of troops for further action. Meanwhile, efforts are ongoing to conduct follow-up operations to intercept other members of the criminal syndicate.”