Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesome Wike has revealed that he was so frustrated by a comment made by Channels Television journalist Seun Okinbaloye that he wished he could “shoot him through the TV screen.”
Wike made the remarks on Friday during a media chat in Abuja.
The controversy stems from Thursday’s edition of Channels Television’s Politics Today, which focused on the leadership crisis in the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the decision of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
On the show, Okinbaloye expressed concern over Nigeria potentially becoming a one-party state, noting that the ADC, seen as one of the opposition’s few alternatives, might not contest the 2027 elections due to internal crises. He said:
“I’m particularly very pained because what makes the race interesting is when it’s competitive, not when only one party stands in the middle of the ballot. If the ADC one of the only hopes of the opposition cannot contest in 2027, we are doomed democratically.”
Reacting to the broadcast, Wike accused Okinbaloye of taking sides in the ADC dispute rather than remaining neutral as a journalist. He said:
“I was surprised yesterday, thoroughly surprised. 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 now telling your own views. There is nothing wrong with asking questions, but you are now making a statement on national television, which means you have already taken a position.”
Wike clarified that his comment was an expression of frustration and not a literal threat.