The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has rejected reports that the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has emerged as a coalition of opposition parties, stressing that the party cannot be described as such.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Tuesday, Wike argued that the recent movement of politicians into the ADC does not qualify as a coalition, explaining that a true coalition only exists when political parties merge to create an entirely new entity.
He recalled the 2014 formation of the All Progressives Congress (APC), which brought together the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), and sections of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). According to him, that was a proper coalition, unlike what is being claimed in the case of the ADC.
“There’s no coalition. What is coalition? You can talk about coalition when CPC and AC and some PDP members went to form another party, that you can call coalition,” Wike stated.
The minister further questioned the relevance of the ADC in today’s political climate, pointing to the results of recent by-elections held in 13 states. In his view, the outcome clearly shows that Nigerians are not turning to the ADC for political alternatives.
“From what happened in the by-election, how can you say Nigerians are looking up to them (ADC)?” he asked.
When pressed on why he had advised Nigerians not to cast their votes for the ADC in future elections, Wike maintained his position, saying, “because they have nothing to show.”
He criticized former officeholders within the ADC who campaign on promises without presenting records of achievements from their time in power. Drawing from his own experience as governor of Rivers State, Wike remarked that many of the current ADC politicians had been invited by him to commission projects, a point he used to underline the lack of fresh credentials within the party’s ranks.
What you should know
Nyesom Wike, now serving as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, was previously the governor of Rivers State and is recognized as an influential figure in Nigerian politics.
His dismissal of the African Democratic Congress as a coalition reflects ongoing debates over the strength and credibility of opposition platforms in Nigeria, especially as the country looks ahead to future elections.
