Nigerian comedian and entertainment figure, Gbenga Adeyinka, has suggested that younger presidential candidates from the 2023 elections should consider contesting for seats in the National Assembly instead of the presidency.

In a recent podcast published by TheCable, Adeyinka encouraged prominent candidates like Peter Obi of the Labour Party, Omoyele Sowore of the African Action Congress, Kingsley Moghalu, and other youthful contenders to focus on roles in the Senate and House of Representatives.

Adeyinka emphasized that having figures like Obi, Sowore, and Fela Durotoye in the Senate would bring about more cautious decision-making from any sitting president.

He also highlighted the importance of starting at the grassroots level in politics, advising that aspiring politicians should work their way up within the system. “Politics in Nigeria has a bottom-up structure,” he explained.

Adeyinka mentioned that while many young candidates, including Sowore, Durotoye, Obi, and Moghalu, have expressed interest in the presidency, their talents might be better utilized by focusing on legislative roles that can transform the country’s laws and governance.

He said, “There are some people who are professional politicians. That is their job. You now wake up and say you want to come, and… they will not even give you the ticket. With our current structure, it takes the grace of men for you to become president.

“That’s why when I see them, Sowore, saying they want to be president, Fela Durotoye wants to be president, Peter Obi wants to be president, and there’s one very intelligent guy, Moghalu wants to be president… I think we need to get these young people into the House of Reps and into the Senate to rewrite our laws.

“If Peter Obi becomes president of Nigeria with the same structure we have in place, there’s nothing he’s going to do.”