The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has launched a blistering attack on the newly formed opposition alliance that recently took over the African Democratic Congress (ADC), describing it as a gathering of “expired” and “failed politicians” with no credibility or solutions to offer Nigerians.
Wike, a chieftain of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who currently serves under the APC-led federal government, made the remarks during a live televised media chat on Thursday, a day after the official unveiling of the ADC Coalition at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja.
At the centre of the controversy is the ADC’s complete structural handover to the new opposition coalition, which is positioning itself as a formidable force ahead of the 2027 general elections. As part of the arrangement, the entire leadership of the ADC stepped down, allowing prominent political figures across party lines to assume control.
Former Senate President David Mark was appointed Interim National Chairman of the revamped ADC, while former Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola was named Interim National Secretary.
The event attracted a host of high-profile opposition politicians including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar; Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate Peter Obi; ex-Kaduna Governor Nasir El-Rufai; former Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi; former APC National Chairman John Odigie Oyegun; and other influential figures like Senators Ireti Kingibe and Victor Umeh, Solomon Dalung, Dele Momodu, Dino Melaye, Emeka Ihedioha, and retired Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar.
Representatives from the PDP, Labour Party, Social Democratic Party (SDP), and various other opposition blocs were also in attendance.
Reacting to the coalition’s launch, Wike dismissed its members as political veterans with nothing new to offer the Nigerian people. He systematically singled out several of the key figures in the coalition, questioning their track records during their years in power.
He began with David Mark, saying: “I heard David Mark talking about rescuing Nigeria, saying Nigerians are unhappy. But he was Senate President for eight years—were Nigerians happy then? What did he do for Otukpo, his hometown? Not one federal project. He used to fly helicopters there, but no visible development. Back then, were Nigerians not angry?”
Wike also pointed out that Mark had once sought to become PDP national chairman but was rejected. According to him, after being rebuffed, Mark turned to the ADC to continue his political relevance.
He added that Mark even failed to maintain PDP’s dominance in his constituency, where his daughter contested and won a House of Representatives seat under the APC banner.
Turning his attention to Rotimi Amaechi, Wike criticized the former transportation minister for securing huge Chinese loans that left Nigeria heavily indebted.
“Amaechi, as minister, plunged the country into debt with Chinese loans. Was that a time when Nigerians were happy?”
On Hadi Sirika, the former aviation minister, Wike mocked the failed Nigeria Air project: “Sirika was part of them. What happened to Nigeria Air? It was nothing but a scam. Was that what made Nigerians happy?”
Wike went on to highlight the hypocrisy of coalition members who, according to him, are only vocal about the nation’s problems now that they are out of power.
“When they were in government, they claimed everything was fine. But now, out of office, they say Nigeria is broken. Is it under Tinubu that banditry started? He inherited a mess and is trying to fix it.”
He didn’t spare Abubakar Malami, the former Attorney-General of the Federation, whose recent criticisms he described as “shameful.”
“Malami had the constitutional power to shape the security and legal landscape of this country. What did he do with it? What was his legacy?”
On Aminu Tambuwal, Wike asked what impact the former Speaker of the House of Representatives and two-term Sokoto State governor made.
“Tambuwal was Speaker for four years and governor for eight. What meaningful legacy did he leave behind? What did he do to reduce the anger of Nigerians?”
Wike also mentioned Bolaji Abdullahi, the former Minister of Sports, saying his decision to join the ADC was not based on ideology or service but because he had fallen out with his political mentor, Senator Bukola Saraki.
Despite his fierce criticisms of the new coalition, Wike insisted that the only opposition party with a real chance of challenging President Bola Tinubu in 2027 is the PDP—but only if it can overcome its internal crisis and put its house in order.
“Let’s be honest. The PDP remains the only party with the structure and strength to face Tinubu. But that can only happen if we resolve our internal issues and unite.”
Wike’s outburst has added further drama to Nigeria’s shifting political landscape ahead of the 2027 general elections, as parties and personalities begin to realign and reposition themselves for the contest ahead.