Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has said that the internal structure of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) made it obvious from the beginning that former Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, stood little or no chance of securing the party’s 2027 presidential ticket.
Wike made the remarks during his monthly media chat in Abuja on Monday, where he described the party’s leadership arrangement as one that clearly favoured former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.
According to him, anyone familiar with Nigerian political dynamics would have easily predicted the outcome of the ADC presidential contest.
“When I saw that he was running with them, I knew what would happen. If he had called me, I would have told him not to go there. It was very clear he would not get transparency or due process,” Wike said.
The FCT minister, who said Amaechi is a political ally from their days in Rivers State, insisted that the ADC leadership structure was never neutral.
“When I saw David Mark as chairman, I laughed. That set-up was Atiku’s set-up 100 per cent,” he added.
Wike argued that the arrangement within the party could not have guaranteed a fair contest, describing it as predictable to those familiar with the key political actors involved.
“You cannot set a trap for me. We know ourselves in politics. Who told you that kind of structure would give you a free and fair election?” he asked.
Read Also:
ADC Unveils Kaduna Senatorial Candidates for 2027 Elections
He further claimed that Amaechi was misled by growing anti-government sentiments and political pressure ahead of the election.
“I think my brother made a mistake. He was too much in a hurry. He was carried away by people shouting that the government is not doing well,” he said.
Wike also revisited past tensions within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), accusing some party leaders of failing to ensure fairness during the 2022 presidential primary.
His comments come shortly after Amaechi rejected the ADC primary outcome, alleging irregularities and claiming that the process was not transparent.
Despite the objections, the ADC declared Atiku Abubakar winner of the primary with 1,846,370 votes, while Amaechi polled 504,117 votes. Businessman Mohammed Hayatu-Deen came third with 177,120 votes.
Meanwhile, efforts are reportedly ongoing within the party to reconcile aggrieved aspirants as preparations intensify ahead of the 2027 general elections.
