The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, claimed that former Rivers State governor Rotimi Amaechi never stood a realistic chance of securing the African Democratic Congress presidential ticket because the party’s leadership structure was already tilted in favour of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.
Speaking during his monthly media briefing, Wike said he reached that conclusion after observing the composition of the ADC leadership before the presidential primary. According to him, the arrangement within the party made it difficult to expect a transparent and competitive contest for all aspirants seeking the ticket.
The minister, who once worked closely with Amaechi during his time as Chief of Staff in Rivers State, said he would have advised his former ally against entering the race if he had been consulted. Wike maintained that the political environment within the party clearly suggested that the outcome would favour Atiku.
He pointed to the emergence of former Senate President David Mark as chairman of the ADC and argued that the development was a sign that the structure of the party was aligned with Atiku’s interests. According to him, politicians familiar with the key figures involved could easily predict how the process would unfold.
Wike also said Amaechi misjudged the political situation and allowed growing criticism of President Bola Tinubu’s administration to influence his decision to seek the ADC ticket. He argued that some political actors used dissatisfaction with the government to attract support and strengthen their own positions within the party.
The FCT minister further revisited events surrounding the 2022 presidential primary of the Peoples Democratic Party, accusing David Mark of failing to provide a level playing field during the contest that eventually produced Atiku as the party’s presidential candidate.
His remarks came shortly after Amaechi rejected the outcome of the ADC primary election. The former transportation minister described the exercise as flawed and questioned the credibility of the voting process. He alleged that many party members were unable to participate, a situation he said weakened the integrity of the election.
Despite the objections raised by Amaechi, the ADC declared Atiku its presidential candidate for the 2027 general election after he secured the highest number of votes in the primary. Amaechi finished second, while businessman Mohammed Hayatu-Deen placed third.
Following the primary, Atiku has reportedly held separate meetings with both Amaechi and Hayatu-Deen as part of efforts to address concerns within the party and promote unity ahead of the next general election.