Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has launched a scathing attack on members of the newly formed opposition coalition under the African Democratic Congress (ADC), insisting that the group lacks credibility and cohesion to challenge President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
In a media chat with Journalists on Thursday, Wike dismissed the coalition, describing it as a desperate fallback for failed political actors who were denied control of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
“There is no coalition,” Wike declared. “The opposition has decimated themselves. The only party that can, if they put themselves well, challenge this Government is the PDP.”
Wike accused former Senate President David Mark of attempting to hijack the PDP leadership before defecting to become the interim chairman of the ADC-led coalition.
“David Mark wanted to be chairman of the party and we said no. When they were saying the chairman should come back to North Central, we said no. We stood our ground,” he said. “Now he has gone to take chairman of coalition. Let me see who Nigerians will listen to.”
The Minister also took a swipe at Ovation publisher Dele Momodu, who is part of the coalition, describing him as politically irrelevant.
“Dele Momodu was never my friend. He is somebody who said he ran for presidency—he didn’t get one vote—and that one is in the coalition.”
Wike, known for his blunt political commentary, insisted that many of those now in the ADC coalition had long histories of jumping from party to party in pursuit of power. He singled out former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, accusing him of repeated defections purely for personal ambition.
“Atiku was in PDP, he left and joined AC, from AC, he came back to PDP, left again and joined the APC, then came back to PDP—and now he has left again and joined the ADC,” Wike said. “Dem born you, born everytime leave, leave. They just want where they will be in charge.”
He also questioned the sincerity of those expressing concern over public discontent.
“They keep saying Nigerians are angry. Say that you have been defeated in this place; don’t push it to Nigerians.”
Wike challenged coalition figures to match his performance in public office, boasting that he had tangible achievements to point to during his ministerial tenure.
“If I leave as a minister today, I can talk authoritatively and say when I was a minister, this was what I did. Let any of them challenge me.”
He further questioned the motives of former Kaduna Governor Nasir El-Rufai, hinting that his participation in the coalition was motivated by political rejection.
“If El-Rufai… if the president did not dump him, would there have been a coalition on his part?”
As the 2027 general elections approach, Wike made it clear that, despite internal challenges, the PDP remains the only structured opposition with a chance of unseating the APC—provided it stays united.
“Politics is interest. There is nothing those people didn’t do to take over the factional chairmanship of PDP and we stood firm and said no,” he concluded.
