Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has criticised opposition political parties, describing them as “known liars” and accusing them of misleading Nigerians with claims of political reform and democratic renewal.
Gatekeepers News reports that Wike made the remarks on Monday during his monthly media briefing in Abuja, where he questioned the credibility of opposition parties and pointed to controversies surrounding their internal democratic processes.
The former Rivers State governor specifically referenced the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), arguing that parties presenting themselves as cleaner alternatives to the ruling establishment have failed to conduct their own affairs without disputes.
According to him, groups that portray themselves as agents of change and democratic reform have struggled to organise credible primaries, thereby undermining their claims of offering a better political alternative.
“They said they are the saviour that will come. What has happened now?” Wike asked. “NDC said we are the new face of democracy. ADC said this kind of party is a party that hasn’t been polluted one day; it is a party that God just brought from the womb.
“What has happened? So dirty. See what has happened in the NDC. As small as they are, they cannot do a primary without protest.”
The minister also criticised the ADC, which he said had positioned itself as a coalition determined to strengthen democracy and challenge the ruling party.
“Look at ADC, who said it’s a coalition to take over from APC to stop the distortion of democracy. What has happened?” he said.
“While the congress was going on, two presidential aspirants said, ‘We cannot believe that you will perpetrate this.’ We have been accusing this party of doing this. Now see what we are doing; see what we have done.”
Wike argued that the developments exposed contradictions within opposition parties and raised questions about their promises to Nigerians.
“So that now tells you, who is deceiving whom? Who is coming to Nigeria to tell them lie that we are the newborn baby, the messiahs of the time of Nigeria? This is what we want to do,” he added.
The FCT minister further said Nigerians were increasingly aware of what he described as inconsistencies in the opposition’s rhetoric, noting that parties facing internal disputes could not convincingly present themselves as superior alternatives.
“PDP is a dead party, according to you. You’ve said here APC is rotten. They cannot help Nigerian democracy. Just ordinary congress. You have three presidential aspirants; two said, ‘This is rubbish. This is criminality to the highest order’. Why are we complaining against another party?” he said.
Wike maintained that established political parties, despite their challenges, have a better understanding of Nigeria’s political environment and democratic culture.
“My assessment is that I prefer, from what I’ve seen, the old parties that are running are those that have even tested this environment and have known what Nigerian culture is all about,” he added.
His comments come amid growing political activity and realignments ahead of future elections, with several opposition groups seeking to expand their influence and position themselves as alternatives to the country’s dominant political parties.
