The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has rejected allegations that opposition parties are being targeted by the current administration, describing such claims as unfounded.
Speaking in Abuja during an interview with journalists, Wike argued that the challenges currently faced by opposition groups are not as severe as what he experienced under former President Muhammadu Buhari.
His remarks come amid criticism directed at the ruling All Progressives Congress and President Bola Tinubu, with some accusing the government of attempting to weaken opposition parties and push Nigeria toward a one-party system.
Wike, however, dismissed the allegations, insisting that political pressure is not new and that he personally faced more intense challenges in the past.
“It’s not correct that the current ruling party is killing the opposition, and I take exceptions to that,” he said. “If there was anybody tormented by a government, it was me… I was personally haunted under Buhari.”
He pointed to his involvement in internal disputes within the Peoples Democratic Party, including cases that reached the Supreme Court, as evidence of the level of pressure he endured.
Wike also addressed the ongoing leadership crisis within the African Democratic Congress, which has drawn the attention of the Independent National Electoral Commission following court rulings and continued litigation.
Maintaining that claims of harassment are misleading, he argued that political competition naturally involves strategic actions from both ruling and opposition parties.
“Under Buhari, this is what they did to kill PDP. All these people shouting… it is only when it does not favor you,” he said.
According to the minister, such manoeuvring is part of the political landscape, noting that opposition parties should expect challenges from those in power.
“If you are an opposition party, you know the government or the ruling party will always look for a loophole. That is politics,” he added.
