In a heated political exchange on Thursday, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, and the African Democratic Congress (ADC) clashed over the blame for Nigeria’s current difficulties, with the ADC accusing President Bola Tinubu of failing Nigerians. During his monthly media briefing in Abuja, Wike dismissed the 2027 opposition coalition, asserting that only the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has the capacity to defeat the incumbent president, while insisting that Nigerians are not seriously considering the ADC.
Okay.ng reports that the PDP’s National Working Committee, through its National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, clarified that the party has not taken any official position on the coalition. Meanwhile, Dumebi Kachikwu, the ADC’s 2023 presidential candidate, accused the faction led by former Senate President David Mark of engineering the party’s leadership to favor former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as the 2027 presidential candidate. Kachikwu vowed to challenge this faction in court to reclaim control of the party.
Responding to Wike’s criticism, ADC’s National Publicity Secretary Bolaji Abdullahi stated that Wike’s unease stems from the coalition’s growing threat to the government he represents. Abdullahi emphasized that the ADC-led coalition belongs to the Nigerian people and is a response to the administration’s failures.
The coalition was unveiled on Wednesday by a group of prominent politicians including Labour Party’s Peter Obi, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Kaduna Governor Nasir El-Rufai, and ex-Rivers Governor Rotimi Amaechi. Though many have not formally joined the ADC, they have expressed public support for it. The party is now led by an interim leadership team headed by David Mark as national chairman and Rauf Aregbesola as national secretary, following the resignation of Ralph Nwosu and his team.
Wike mocked the coalition, accusing its leaders of exploiting Nigerians’ frustrations while ignoring their own records in power. He questioned the coalition’s narrative of widespread anger, pointing out that many coalition members held significant offices during periods of hardship but failed to deliver improvements. “I heard David Mark say, to rescue Nigeria, Nigerians are angry. David Mark was Senate President for how many terms? Two terms, is it not? Nigerians were happy? Nigerians were happy when he was Senate President for eight years? And there was no single project to Otukpo; not one,” Wike said. He further argued that only those who have never held public office should claim Nigerians are angry and insisted that President Tinubu is actively working to improve the nation’s condition.
In response, ADC’s Bolaji Abdullahi criticized Wike’s administration for failing to fulfill promises such as paying striking primary school teachers and treating FCT workers poorly, while spending billions on “white elephants.” He accused Wike of being a pawn used to undermine the PDP, and insisted the coalition movement belongs to Nigerians seeking renewed hope.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) dismissed the coalition as a gathering of “deceivers and self-centered individuals driven by personal grudges.” APC National Publicity Secretary Felix Morka described the coalition’s unveiling as a “gasping whimper” and accused its leaders of selfish ambition and betrayal of public trust.
The Presidency also weighed in, with Special Adviser on Media Sunday Dare comparing the ADC unfavorably to the APC’s 2013 merger. He described the ADC as led by “a serial election loser” with personal ambition rather than national interest, lacking the unity and grassroots support that defined the APC’s formation. Dare emphasized that the APC coalition emerged from legitimate grievances and a desire to end PDP’s misrule, whereas the ADC’s effort is purely opportunistic.
Special Adviser on Policy Communication Daniel Bwala called the ADC a “dead on arrival party” and an “association of wild goose chasers,” echoing criticisms of the coalition’s viability.
Former Minister Rotimi Amaechi urged Nigerians to actively oppose Tinubu’s 2027 re-election, warning that passivity benefits the political elite. Speaking at the Africa Polling Institute’s event, Amaechi cited examples of mass protests in other countries that ousted unpopular leaders and lamented Nigeria’s docility.
A recent survey by the Africa Polling Institute revealed that 83% of Nigerians have little or no trust in the Tinubu government, with similarly low confidence in the National Assembly and judiciary.
The PDP clarified that it has not officially endorsed the coalition, focusing instead on its upcoming national convention and internal unity. Despite defections to the ADC, the PDP maintains it is not participating in any coalition against Tinubu.
The Labour Party (LP) issued a 48-hour ultimatum to Peter Obi to resign over his involvement with the ADC, accusing coalition members of personal ambition. However, the LP caretaker committee dismissed the ultimatum as illegitimate and reaffirmed support for Obi’s coalition participation.
Former ADC National Chairman Ralph Nwosu announced plans to unveil a “Contract with Nigerians,” a blueprint for progress and development, emphasizing the coalition’s grassroots expansion across Nigeria’s 774 local governments.
Meanwhile, Dumebi Kachikwu accused the David Mark-led faction of the ADC of engineering the party to favor Atiku Abubakar’s candidacy and challenged them to publicly commit to zoning the presidential ticket to the South.
PDP chieftains and Labour Party officials criticized the coalition as composed of failed politicians seeking to recycle themselves, urging Nigerians to reject the alliance.
This political drama sets the stage for a contentious 2027 election, with the opposition coalition challenging President Tinubu’s administration amid deep divisions within Nigeria’s political landscape.
