- he had reservations about Amaechi’s participation in the race and would have advised him against contesting if consulted beforehand
- His remarks come shortly after Amaechi rejected the outcome of the ADC presidential primary
- The minister also suggested that Amaechi rushed into the contest, influenced by growing criticism of the current administration
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has claimed that former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi stood little chance of emerging as the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) due to the party’s leadership structure.
Speaking during his monthly media briefing in Abuja on Monday, Eko Hot Blog reports that Wike said the composition of the ADC leadership made it obvious that the presidential primary would favour former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.
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The FCT minister, who once worked closely with Amaechi as his Chief of Staff in Rivers State, said he was not surprised by the outcome of the contest.
According to Wike, he had reservations about Amaechi’s participation in the race and would have advised him against contesting if consulted beforehand.
He argued that the emergence of former Senate President David Mark as the party’s chairman signalled the direction the primary process was likely to take.
Wike maintained that political actors familiar with the personalities involved could easily predict how events would unfold within the party.
He further stated that the ADC’s internal arrangement did not inspire confidence in terms of transparency and fairness, insisting that the structure heavily favoured Atiku’s political camp.
The minister also suggested that Amaechi rushed into the contest, influenced by growing criticism of the current administration and encouragement from political associates seeking to strengthen opposition efforts.
Wike revisited the 2022 Peoples Democratic Party presidential primary, alleging that David Mark did not provide a level playing field during the exercise that eventually produced Atiku as the PDP candidate.
His remarks come shortly after Amaechi rejected the outcome of the ADC presidential primary, alleging irregularities and questioning the credibility of the process.
Before the official declaration of results, Amaechi had accused the party of denying many members the opportunity to vote, arguing that the exercise failed to meet democratic standards.
Despite the complaints, the ADC announced Atiku as the winner of the primary and its flag bearer for the 2027 presidential election.
Party figures showed Atiku polling 1,846,370 votes, while Amaechi secured 504,117 votes. Businessman Mohammed Hayatu-Deen finished third with 177,120 votes.
Meanwhile, Atiku has continued efforts to unite the party, holding separate meetings with Amaechi and Hayatu-Deen as part of moves to address grievances and strengthen cohesion ahead of the 2027 polls.
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