By Uche Amunike
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has explained why former Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, stood little chance of securing the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential ticket ahead of the 2027 general election.
Speaking during his monthly media briefing in Abuja, Monday, Wike said it was obvious from the beginning that Rotimi Amaechi would not get a fair opportunity in the race because the party structure was heavily tilted in favour of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.
According to the FCT minister, the composition of the ADC leadership made it clear that the outcome of the primary election had virtually been decided long before delegates cast their votes.
Wike, who once served as Chief of Staff under Amaechi in Rivers State, described the former governor as a political ally and brother. However, he maintained that Rotimi Amaechi made a major political miscalculation by joining the contest under the circumstances.
‘Amaechi is my brother. I worked closely with him, and when I saw the arrangement in the ADC, I already knew how it would end. If he had sought my advice, I would have told him not to participate because the signs were obvious, Wike stated.
The minister specifically pointed to the appointment of former Senate President David Mark as chairman of the party, arguing that it indicated a structure that would favour Atiku.
According to Wike, politicians with experience understand how power dynamics operate within political parties and can often predict outcomes based on leadership composition.
Hear him: ‘When I saw David Mark in that position, I laughed because I understood the political setup. That arrangement was completely designed around Atiku. Anyone familiar with those involved would know that the chances of transparency and a level playing field were slim.’
He further suggested that Rotimi Amaechi was influenced by the growing criticism of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration and allowed public sentiments to cloud his political judgment.
He argued that some political actors used dissatisfaction with the government to attract credible figures into the ADC race, thereby strengthening the legitimacy of a process that was ultimately structured to benefit a preferred candidate.
The minister also revisited the controversies surrounding the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential primary in 2022. He accused David Mark of failing to ensure fairness during the process that eventually produced Atiku as the party’s presidential candidate.
Wike’s comments come shortly after Rotimi Amaechi openly rejected the outcome of the ADC presidential primary. The former transportation minister described the exercise as manipulated and inconsistent with the democratic values the party claimed to uphold.
In a statement shared on social media before the official announcement of the results, Amaechi alleged that numerous party members were denied the opportunity to vote, raising concerns about transparency and credibility.
Despite the complaints, the ADC declared Atiku Abubakar the winner of the primary election. The former vice president reportedly secured 1,846,370 votes, while Rotimi Amaechi polled 504,117 votes. Businessman Mohammed Hayatu-Deen finished third with 177,120 votes.
Meanwhile, Atiku has since met separately with Amaechi and Hayatu-Deen in a bid to reconcile aggrieved members and strengthen party unity ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
