FCT Minister Nyesom Wike has launched a scathing attack on opposition parties, accusing them of hypocrisy and failing the very democratic standards they claim to champion.
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has criticized opposition political parties, particularly the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), describing them as “known liars” who have failed to live up to their promises of political reform and internal democracy.
Speaking during his monthly media briefing in Abuja on Monday, Wike said recent controversies surrounding the parties’ primary elections have exposed what he called their lack of credibility and inconsistency.
According to the former Rivers State governor, parties that portray themselves as cleaner, more democratic alternatives to the ruling party have already begun displaying the same flaws they often accuse others of committing.
Wike questioned the moral authority of opposition parties that market themselves as agents of change but struggle to conduct peaceful and transparent internal elections.
They said they are the saviour that will come. What has happened now?” Wike asked.
He noted that the NDC, which presented itself as a fresh democratic force, was unable to conduct a primary election without generating protests and allegations of irregularities.
The FCT minister also took aim at the ADC, which has been positioning itself as a coalition capable of challenging the dominance of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
According to him, disagreements among presidential aspirants during the party’s congress exposed deep divisions and raised questions about its readiness to govern Nigeria.
Wike argued that the internal disputes rocking opposition parties prove that no political platform is immune from the challenges of managing democracy in Nigeria.
He accused some opposition figures of misleading citizens by branding their parties as newborn babies and messiahs while engaging in practices they frequently condemn in rival parties.
Who is deceiving whom? Who is coming to Nigeria to tell lies that they are the messiahs of our time?” he asked.
The minister maintained that Nigerians are becoming increasingly aware of what he described as contradictions in the opposition’s rhetoric and actions.
The outspoken minister further stated that despite criticisms often directed at older political parties, they have gained valuable experience in navigating Nigeria’s complex political environment.
He referenced comments by opposition leaders who have repeatedly described both the APC and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as failed political platforms, arguing that recent events have weakened such claims.
PDP is a dead party, according to you. APC is rotten, according to you. Yet, when you organize a simple congress, two out of three presidential aspirants reject the outcome and call it criminality, Wike said.
He added that from his observations, established parties have demonstrated a better understanding of Nigeria’s political realities than newer parties that claim to possess all the solutions
Wike’s remarks come at a time when several opposition parties are grappling with internal disputes following the conclusion of their primary elections ahead of upcoming political contests.
Political analysts believe the controversies could affect public confidence in opposition movements seeking to present themselves as viable alternatives to the country’s dominant political parties.
As Nigeria’s political landscape continues to evolve, Wike’s comments are likely to intensify debate over party democracy, leadership credibility, and the readiness of opposition groups to challenge for power on the national stage.
