The Nigeria Democratic Congress has accused Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, of political hypocrisy, insisting that he lacks the moral authority to question its presidential candidate, Peter Obi, on national unity and political tolerance.
The party challenged Wike to address the political disagreements surrounding his activities in Rivers State before attempting to criticise Obi over the conduct of NDC supporters.
The NDC’s position followed Wike’s reported criticism of Obi after supporters of the party reportedly sang the old national anthem during a town hall meeting in Lagos on Thursday.
In a statement issued on Friday night, the spokesperson for the NDC National Campaign Council, Dr Chiogo Ikokwu, described the minister’s intervention as an attempt to assume the position of a moral authority in Nigerian politics.
She argued that Wike’s political activities in Rivers State and his movement across party lines had contributed to divisions and instability.
“It is extraordinary that someone whose political conduct in and outside Rivers State has been widely associated with deep divisions, political upheaval and prolonged instability, can suddenly appoint himself the moral referee of Nigerian politics,” Ikokwu said.
The party also referenced Wike’s involvement in the political controversies surrounding the 2023 presidential election in Rivers State and his political manoeuvring between the Peoples Democratic Party and the All Progressives Congress.
Ikokwu maintained that the minister should resolve political disagreements within his own camp before questioning the actions of other political parties.
“You cannot be an arsonist in your own backyard and turn up elsewhere preaching fire safety,” she said.
Addressing the controversy surrounding the old national anthem, the NDC spokesperson explained that its rendition at the Lagos meeting was an spontaneous expression by supporters and was neither planned nor directed by Obi or the party leadership.
She added that another portion of the video showed the supporters singing the current national anthem, arguing that the incident should not be given the political interpretation being advanced by Wike.
The party further accused the minister of attempting to divert public attention from the country’s economic challenges and the hardship facing Nigerians.
“We need to focus on the issues that matter to Nigerians in this election: the economy and the crippling hardship inflicted by the APC government,” Ikokwu said.
The exchange adds to the growing political confrontation between supporters of the NDC presidential candidate and Wike ahead of the 2027 general elections.
