‘I Am Not Afraid!’ — Channels TV’s Seun Okinbaloye Hits Back At Wike

In a defiant stand for media independence, the celebrated anchor of Channels Television’s Politics Today, Seun Okinbaloye, has declared that he will neither be cowed nor intimidated by the “violent rhetoric” of political figures, following a high-profile verbal assault by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.

Okinbaloye, who addressed the controversy during a live broadcast on Sunday evening, maintained that the role of journalism is to hold the powerful to account, regardless of the personal or professional cost.

The rift began following a media parley where Minister Wike reportedly took umbrage at Okinbaloye’s analysis of the leadership crisis within the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the potential emergence of a one-party state ahead of the 2027 general elections. Wike had dismissed the journalist’s observations as “inappropriate” for a moderator.

Responding to the Minister’s posture, Okinbaloye warned that silencing dissenting voices is the first step toward democratic collapse.

“Our democracy is in danger if we allow one-way traffic in balloting,” Okinbaloye stated, adding that his commitment to asking “the necessary questions” remains unshaken. “If that commitment comes at a cost, so be it.”

Despite the public tension, the anchor revealed that he had received an “ongoing reassurance” from the Department of State Services (DSS) regarding his safety. He also disclosed that Minister Wike had reached out to him personally to clarify that his intent was not as “conveyed” in the public sphere.

However, Okinbaloye was quick to point out that even “hyperbolic” threats—as Wike’s aides later described the comments—have no place in a democratic society, especially during sensitive election periods.

“Violent rhetoric or suggestive threats are never appropriate responses to dissent,” he cautioned, noting that such language could be exploited by “those with harmful intentions.”

The incident has triggered a wave of solidarity from civil rights groups and international observers. Amnesty International Nigeria issued a stinging rebuke of the Minister’s statements, describing them as a “reckless” attempt to normalize violence against journalists.

According to the rights group, such comments from a sitting public official carry the grave danger of encouraging the targeting of media practitioners for simply doing their jobs.

Okinbaloye concluded his broadcast by thanking Nigerians for their overwhelming support, reaffirming that his journalism would remain grounded in “ethics and global best practices” rather than being a “concession to power.”