By Ezekiel Obi, Abuja
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has expressed strong displeasure over comments made by Channels Television journalist, Seun Okinbaloye, during a recent political programme, saying he was so frustrated that he wished he could “shoot him through the TV screen.”
Wike made the remark on Friday during a media chat in Abuja while reacting to discussions from Thursday’s edition of Politics Today on Channels Television.
The programme had focused on the leadership crisis rocking the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the implications of decisions taken by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), particularly as they relate to the 2027 general elections.
During the broadcast, Okinbaloye voiced concerns that Nigeria could drift toward a one-party state if opposition parties fail to remain competitive, especially amid the internal crisis within the ADC. 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 statement, Wike criticised the journalist for allegedly abandoning neutrality and taking a position on a political matter during the interview.
The FCT minister said he was taken aback by the comment and described it as inappropriate for a journalist moderating a political discussion.
“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, however, clarified that the remark about shooting through the television was not a literal threat but an expression of frustration over what he perceived as a departure from journalistic neutrality.
The exchange has since sparked reactions among political observers and media stakeholders, with debates emerging over the role of journalists in political discourse and the boundaries between analysis and neutrality in broadcast journalism.
The development also comes amid growing conversations around opposition party cohesion and preparations for the 2027 general elections.
Credit: National Accord Newspaper
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