The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has alleged that the internal structure of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) was deliberately arranged in a way that denied former Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, a fair chance at clinching the party’s 2027 presidential ticket.
Wike made the remarks on Monday during his monthly media briefing in Abuja, insisting that the leadership composition of the ADC clearly signalled that the process was designed to favour former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.
According to him, the emergence of former Senate President David Mark as part of the party’s leadership further confirmed his belief that the structure was not neutral.
He described the arrangement as “Atiku’s set-up,” arguing that anyone familiar with Nigerian political dynamics would easily detect the outcome from the onset.
Wike said Amaechi, whom he described as a political associate and former ally, would have been discouraged from joining the race if he had consulted him beforehand.
He maintained that the process lacked transparency and internal fairness, adding that the configuration of the ADC leadership made the outcome predictable.
The FCT Minister also suggested that Amaechi was influenced by growing criticism of the current administration, which he said created a misleading impression that opposition platforms offered better chances.
Wike further recalled earlier disagreements within the Peoples Democratic Party, accusing some political actors of consistently manipulating internal contests.
His comments come in the wake of Amaechi’s rejection of the ADC presidential primary outcome, which he described as flawed and lacking credibility.
Amaechi had earlier alleged that the process was compromised and that some delegates were prevented from participating, raising concerns about fairness within the party.
Despite the controversy, the ADC declared Atiku Abubakar winner of the presidential primary with a wide margin over Amaechi and other contestants.