Primaries: Wike Accuses Atiku, Obi, Kwankwaso, Others Of Being Liars

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has described leading opposition figures, including Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi and Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, as “known liars,” accusing them of misleading Nigerians with claims of offering a credible alternative to the country’s existing political order.

Speaking during his monthly media briefing in Abuja on Monday, Wike took aim at opposition political parties, particularly the National Democratic Coalition (NDC) and the African Democratic Congress (ADC), alleging that their recent primary elections exposed deep contradictions within their ranks and undermined their claims of promoting democratic ideals.

According to the minister, parties that have presented themselves as agents of political reform and good governance have failed to conduct internal electoral processes without controversy, raising questions about their capacity to govern the country effectively.

Wike argued that the disputes that trailed the opposition primaries revealed that many of the shortcomings they routinely accuse the ruling party and other established political parties of committing also exist within their own organisations.

“They said they are the saviours who will come. What has happened now? NDC said, ‘We are the new face of democracy.’ ADC said theirs is a party that has not been polluted, a party that God just brought from the womb. What has happened? Everything has become so dirty,” he said.

The minister specifically referenced controversies surrounding the NDC presidential primary, claiming that the party was unable to conduct even a relatively small-scale internal election without protests and disagreements.

“See what has happened in the NDC. As small as they are, they cannot conduct a primary without protests,” he said.

He also criticised the ADC, which he said had positioned itself as a coalition seeking to rescue Nigeria’s democracy from alleged distortions by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

“Look at the ADC that said it is a coalition to take over from the APC and stop the distortion of democracy. What has happened?” he queried.

Wike further noted that during the opposition congresses, some presidential aspirants publicly condemned the conduct of the exercises, a development he said exposed the hypocrisy of parties that frequently criticise others over electoral irregularities.

“While the congress was going on, two presidential aspirants said they could not believe what was happening and questioned why they were engaging in the same practices they had accused other parties of committing,” he stated.

The minister maintained that the developments had exposed what he described as attempts by opposition leaders to present themselves as political messiahs.

“Who is deceiving whom? Who is coming to Nigerians to tell them that they are the newborn baby and the messiah of our time?

“Nigerians now know that they are all liars. They cannot continue to deceive the people,” he said.

Wike also recalled how opposition figures had repeatedly described both the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the APC as failed political platforms incapable of strengthening democracy.

“According to them, the PDP is dead. They have also said the APC is rotten and cannot help Nigerian democracy. Yet, in an ordinary congress involving just three presidential aspirants, two of them openly described the process as rubbish and criminality of the highest order,” he said.

Reflecting on the current political landscape, Wike said recent events had strengthened his belief that older and more established political parties remain better equipped to navigate Nigeria’s complex political environment.

“My assessment is that, from what I have seen, I prefer the old parties that have been tested over time and understand the realities of Nigerian political culture,” the minister added.