A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dele Momodu, has alleged that the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, paid $30,000 to each delegate during the party’s 2022 presidential primary.

Naijaonpoint reports that Momodu, the publisher of Ovation magazine, made the allegation on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Monday.

Recall that Wike, the former Governor of Rivers State, was defeated by ex-vice president, Atiku Abubakar, in the primary election, a contest that plunged the main opposition party into a prolonged internal crisis.

Following his defeat, Wike moved on to work against the PDP’s interests and supported the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, in the 2023 general election.

Dele Momodu, who has consistently criticised Wike’s conduct during the interview on Monday, stated that a former President had advised him against contesting the PDP presidential primary, citing Wike’s financial influence.

He said, “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.”

Meanwhile, Wike has revealed that he agreed to work in the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu because he knew it would succeed.

Speaking during a thanksgiving service for the successful completion of projects and their inauguration, Wike urged Nigerians to remain patient, assuring that most of the nation’s challenges would soon fade out.

He said Tinubu has achieved a lot within two years in office, adding that the President gave the ministers marching orders to ensure the nation’s progress.

While urging the church to continue to pray for Tinubu and those working with him, the former Rivers State Governor warned the church to distance itself from politicians and past leaders who are only interested in their personal gains