Primaries: Nigerians Now Know You’re Liars, Wike Tells ADC, NDC

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has launched a fresh attack on opposition parties, particularly the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), over controversies that trailed their recent congresses and presidential primaries.

Wike, speaking during his monthly media chat in Abuja on Monday, said the disputes within the parties exposed what he described as deep hypocrisy among politicians who claim to offer Nigerians a better political alternative.

He argued that many of the same politicians who have consistently accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of imposition were now replicating similar practices in their own parties.

“You hear people talk about a particular party not doing something and promise that they are going to change the pattern. You have accused the APC of imposition, the PDP of imposition,” Wike said.

“Now you have formed a new party, a new baby, a righteous baby. The messiah, the saviour that would come, what has happened now?”

The minister said the internal crises in the ADC and NDC had undermined their claims of promoting transparency and internal democracy. According to him, the events revealed that the parties were not different from the established political structures they criticise.

“ADC said they are the new face of democracy; they said it’s the kind of party that has not been polluted. What has happened is so dirty,” he said.

“See what is happening in NDC. As small as they are, they cannot do a primary without protest.”

Wike also referenced complaints from aspirants who participated in the ADC presidential primary, including allegations of irregularities and voter disenfranchisement. He said such complaints show that internal democracy remains a major challenge across the political spectrum.

“Look at ADC, which said it’s a coalition to take over… two presidential aspirants came to say we cannot believe this, saying it’s criminality of the highest order,” he added.

The ADC primary had earlier been rejected by some aspirants, including Rotimi Amaechi and Mohammed Hayatu-Deen, who raised concerns over the credibility of the process.

Wike concluded by stating that Nigerians now have a clearer understanding of the realities within opposition parties, adding that he prefers the older political parties, which he said have more experience in managing Nigeria’s complex political environment.

“Nigerians now know that you are all liars,” he said.