Former Vice President and key figure in Nigeria’s new opposition coalition, Atiku Abubakar, has launched a scathing attack on FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, accusing him of turning the church altar into a political platform, and warning that his “day of reckoning” is fast approaching.
Atiku’s remarks followed Wike’s Sunday appearance at St. James Anglican Church, Asokoro, where the minister was accused of using the pulpit to promote political propaganda. “What is utterly abominable is the desecration of the sacred altar with partisan bile, as Wike shamelessly did today,” Atiku stated via his media aide Paul Ibe. “The house of God became a theatre of lies, vengeance, and drunken arrogance.”
The ADC chieftain further alleged that Wike had denied land-grabbing accusations and resorted to intimidating civil servants to cover up alleged abuses of office. He reminded Nigerians of Wike’s previous efforts to become Atiku’s running mate, claiming the FCT Minister has a record of political desperation masked by bluster.
ADC Website Crashes Three Times Amid Surging Public Interest
Meanwhile, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) reported that its official website crashed three times in 48 hours due to a surge in traffic following the announcement of a new opposition coalition.
“This isn’t just a website crashing. It’s the sound of Nigerians knocking on the door of change,” a political analyst said. The coalition, which includes Atiku Abubakar and other political heavyweights, is being widely viewed as a credible challenge to the ruling APC in 2027.
ADC Alleges FG Plot to Undermine Coalition
The ADC has accused unnamed officials in the Tinubu administration of attempting to destabilise the coalition. In a statement, Interim National Publicity Secretary Bolaji Abdullahi said state party leaders in the North East and North West were being summoned to covert meetings aimed at sowing division.
“This is not politics. This is sabotage,” Abdullahi warned, calling the alleged move a “coordinated assault on multiparty democracy.”
Coalition Faces Legal, Regional, and Political Challenges
Despite the momentum, the coalition is encountering internal and external pushback:
- Legal Battle: Three ADC members have filed a suit challenging the legality of the interim leadership under Senator David Mark, Rauf Aregbesola, and Bolaji Abdullahi. They argue the appointments violated the party’s constitution and proper procedures were not followed.
- Regional Concerns: Former APC spokesman Timi Frank has warned against excluding any region from the coalition’s presidential ticket selection, calling for a merit-based, pan-Nigerian approach to avoid derailing the movement.
- APC Pushback: Ebonyi APC Chairman Stanley Okoro-Emegha dismissed the opposition coalition’s threat, pointing to the popularity of Governor Francis Nwifuru. He predicted more defections into the APC in the coming weeks.
- Public Skepticism: Some youths in Ondo State, under the Akoko Youth Intellectual Movement, labelled the ADC coalition a futile effort, saying its members lack grassroots support and political clout.
Defections Continue: Babachir Lawal Quits APC
Adding to the shakeup, former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal, formally resigned from the APC, saying he would soon announce his next political steps. Though he did not confirm joining the ADC, Lawal is known to have close ties with members of the emerging coalition.
Ruling Party Dismisses Coalition as ‘Aggrieved Politicians’
APC chieftain Farouk Aliyu downplayed the coalition’s potential, describing it as a group of disgruntled former APC members acting out of personal ambition rather than national interest. “Most of them were part of us when we removed Jonathan in 2015. They are just aggrieved,” Aliyu said.
Conclusion
As the political landscape continues to shift ahead of the 2027 elections, the ADC-led coalition faces both growing public enthusiasm and formidable political hurdles. With fierce rhetoric, legal disputes, and ideological divisions already emerging, the weeks ahead are expected to test the coalition’s cohesion and credibility as Nigeria’s new face of opposition.
