Wike slams coalition, calls ADC takeover gathering of ‘failed, expired politicians’

Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike has sharply criticized the anti-Tinubu coalition that recently took control of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), branding them as a group of “failed and expired politicians” with nothing to offer Nigerians.

Speaking on Thursday, July 3, 2025, Wike took direct aim at several prominent members of the coalition, questioning their track records and credibility.

Targeting former Senate President David Mark, Wike said:

“I heard David Mark say they want to rescue Nigeria. That Nigerians are not happy. But the man was Senate President for eight years, and Nigerians were happy? There was no single project in Otukpo. Not one. He was flying with a helicopter to Otukpo. Nigerians were not angry then, but they are angry now?”

Wike further claimed that Mark’s political influence has waned, noting that his daughter lost a House of Representatives seat contest to a candidate from the All Progressives Congress (APC) in their home state.

He continued his criticism by naming other former officials:

• On Rotimi Amaechi: “Amaechi was minister. He took Chinese loans and made Nigeria so indebted to China. So, Nigerians were happy then?”

• On Hadi Sirika: “I saw Sirika. What happened to Air Nigeria? Nigerians were happy then?”

• On Abubakar Malami: “I read what Malami wrote. It was so shameful. He was AGF. What did he do? What was his contribution to resolving the security challenges?”

• On Aminu Tambuwal: “Tambuwal was Speaker for four years. What did he do to make Nigerians not be angry? He was governor for eight years. What did he do?”

• On Bolaji Abdullahi: Wike said the former sports minister only joined the ADC after falling out with his political godfather, Senator Bukola Saraki.

Wike argued that these politicians only speak of “rescuing Nigeria” now that they are out of power, questioning why they did not address the country’s issues while they were in office.

He also defended President Bola Tinubu, asserting that he inherited many of Nigeria’s challenges, including banditry, and should be judged by his efforts to solve them, not blamed for creating them.

“Was it under Tinubu’s government that banditry came? What is he doing? To solve the problems he met,” Wike stated.

Despite his criticism of the coalition, Wike concluded by acknowledging that the only political party capable of mounting a serious challenge to Tinubu’s government is the People’s Democratic Party (PDP)—if it can get its internal affairs in order.