Daniel Otera
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has described the forthcoming 2027 General Elections as “Operation Show Your Scorecard”, throwing a direct challenge to former Senate President David Mark and other figures in the African Democratic Congress (ADC), widely seen as the face of the anti-Tinubu coalition.
Speaking during the commissioning of the newly rehabilitated Aguma Palace–Radio Nigeria–New Market road in Gwagwalada on Friday, Wike questioned the credibility of the coalition’s leaders, accusing them of political hypocrisy and underperformance during their time in office.
Vice President Kashim Shettima, who represented President Bola Tinubu at the event, lauded the infrastructural strides in the FCT under the current administration.
Wike, a former governor of Rivers State, did not hold back in his criticism of David Mark, wondering how someone who held the Senate presidency for eight years could not provide basic infrastructure to his own people in Otukpo, Benue State.
“Everybody show your scorecard. When I was a Senate President, let me show my scorecard. How did I help the people of Benue State? How did I help the people of Otukpo? Is it by flying helicopter to Otukpo?” Wike asked pointedly.
He went on to ridicule the ADC’s recent moves, suggesting the coalition was formed in bad faith to frustrate President Tinubu’s efforts before he could properly settle into office.
“They said the coalition had started 18 months ago. Mr President has been in office two years. So, you started a coalition when he was six months in office. Eighteen months ago, you started a coalition. When will you stop deceiving Nigerians?” he asked.
The FCT Minister expressed astonishment that individuals like David Mark, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, and Rotimi Amaechi, who once held top positions, now criticise a government that is barely two years into its term.
“You had an opportunity to be Senate President for eight years, you had an opportunity to be Speaker for four years, you had an opportunity to be Minister of Transportation for eight years. Yet you never made angry Nigerians happy. But people stayed in office for six months, and you started telling people how Nigerians are angry,” Wike said.
In a direct attack on his predecessor, Rotimi Amaechi, Wike accused him of inciting unrest from a distance while shielding his own children abroad.
“Amaechi asked the youths to rise. Let him come to Rivers and lead them with his children from London. Don’t use the masses to fight your political battles,” he said.
Reacting to media criticism of the government’s project commissioning spree, Wike said the opposition was pained by the FCT’s progress.
“I never knew that people were so pained that so many things are going on very well in FCT, until last night when I was watching Politics Today. One of the presidential aspirants of the coalition party was so pained by the fact that the President, Vice President, Senate President, and others are coming to commission projects,” he said.
Addressing the crowd directly, Wike asked, “Gwagwalada people, are you angry?” which was met with cheers from residents.
He further recalled his political victories, noting how he had defeated powerful figures in Rivers politics over the years, including those backed by the presidency or heavily funded campaign structures.
“I was not a governor when I refused some people to bring their successor. In 2015, I defeated a very powerful governor. In 2019, a super minister borrowing from Chinese banks couldn’t get 20 percent for Mr President. I defeated him,” he declared.
Mocking the frequent defections of some opposition figures, Wike added, “They said they will support one man whose business has been: from 1999 I am in this party, 2006 I am in another party, 2014 I am in this other party, 2019 I am in the other party. Now 2025, I am in another coalition. Dem born you born coalition?” he said sarcastically.
Wike also clarified that the Gwagwalada road project was not imposed on the people but was a product of community engagement forums held across the six Area Councils at the beginning of the Tinubu administration.
“This road was chosen by the people. We only worked on their priority,” he said, adding that a local contractor executed the project.