ADC PRIMARY WAS RIGGED FOR ATIKU, WIKE EXPLAINS WHY AMAECHI STOOD NO CHANCE
Read Time:2 Minute, 14 Second
By:Tajudeen Aminat
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has claimed that the leadership structure of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) made it obvious from the beginning that former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi stood no realistic chance of clinching the party’s 2027 presidential ticket.
Speaking during his monthly media chat in Abuja on Monday, Wike said he immediately knew Amaechi’s ambition was doomed after seeing the composition of the party’s leadership, which he described as an arrangement fully designed to favour former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.
According to the FCT minister, he would have advised his former political ally not to participate in the race if Amaechi had consulted him beforehand.
“Amaechi is my brother. I served as Chief of Staff under his administration. The moment I saw he was running with them, I already knew how it would end. If he had asked for my advice, I would have told him not to bother because there was never going to be transparency or due process,” Wike said.
He further argued that the appointment of former Senate President David Mark as ADC chairman was a clear indication that the process had been structured in Atiku’s favour.
“When I saw the ADC setup and David Mark’s involvement, I laughed. Having worked with these people, I know exactly how they operate. That structure was Atiku’s arrangement from start to finish.
“You cannot trap me politically. We know ourselves too well. Who convinced anyone that such a structure would guarantee transparency or a free and fair primary?” he stated.
Wike also said Amaechi misjudged the political atmosphere, claiming he was influenced by growing criticism of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
“I believe my brother made a mistake. He acted too hastily and was carried away by those shouting that the government is underperforming. That narrative was simply used to lure people in and give the process legitimacy,” he added.
The minister also revisited grievances from the Peoples Democratic Party’s 2022 presidential primary, accusing David Mark of failing to ensure fairness in the contest that eventually produced Atiku as the PDP’s candidate.
His comments come days after Amaechi rejected the outcome of the ADC primary, describing the exercise as manipulated and alleging that it fell short of the transparency promised by the party.
Despite the protests, the ADC declared Atiku winner of the primary with 1,846,370 votes, while Amaechi secured 504,117 votes and businessman Mohammed Hayatu-Deen polled 177,120 votes.
Meanwhile, Atiku has reportedly held separate reconciliation meetings with Amaechi and Hayatu-Deen in a bid to unite the party ahead of the 2027 general election.
Happy
0 %
Sad
0 %
Excited
0 %
Sleepy
0 %
Angry
0 %
Surprise
0 %
0
0