Wike Accuses Ex-Senate President David Mark of Using ‘Military Coup Tactics’ to Scuttle His 2022 Presidential Ambition in PDP Primary

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has launched a fresh attack on key figures within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), accusing former Senate President David Mark of deploying what he described as “military coup tactics” to frustrate his chances during the party’s 2022 presidential primary.

Wike, who was the immediate past governor of Rivers State and a frontline contender for the PDP’s ticket at the time, made the allegation during an interview with Channels Television on Thursday, September 18, where he reflected on his turbulent political battles with former Sokoto State governor, Senator Aminu Tambuwal, and his strained ties with ex-Vice President Atiku Abubakar.

Recounting the controversial events at the 2022 PDP national convention in Abuja, Wike said he had already gained a strong momentum going into the final round of voting, enjoying overwhelming delegate support from key northern states such as Kano and Katsina.

“I won Kano, I won Katsina about 90 percent and 80-something percent respectively. That was where David Mark brought his knowledge of military coup. He was the chairman of the convention. 

“Every aspirant had already spoken, and we were preparing to vote. Then suddenly, Tambuwal was called to withdraw and direct his delegates to vote for Atiku. That was how they rigged it,” Wike recalled confidently.

According to Wike, Tambuwal’s dramatic withdrawal from the race was not spontaneous but rather the product of a calculated deal engineered by Atiku’s camp. He claimed that part of the agreement was to reward Tambuwal with a top political role in the event of Atiku’s victory in the general election.

“They negotiated with him to become Director-General of the campaign and later Senate President. They thought they would win, but they failed and we made sure they failed,” Wike declared defiantly.

In his remarks, the FCT minister went further to describe Tambuwal as “consistently inconsistent,” accusing him of betraying close allies and political associates whenever it served his personal ambition. He also took a swipe at Atiku, questioning his leadership credentials and pointing to what he called the former vice president’s long history of political instability, cross-carpeting, and self-interest.

The comments by Wike who played a controversial but pivotal role in the 2023 general elections as leader of the G-5 governors’ bloc that worked against Atiku’s presidential campaign are expected to spark renewed debates within the PDP. His remarks also come at a time when the opposition party is still grappling with deep internal divisions, poor post-election recovery, and mounting pressure to reinvent itself ahead of the 2027 polls.

Analysts believe Wike’s latest revelations may further polarize the party and complicate reconciliation efforts, with many within the PDP still divided over the events of the 2022 convention and its consequences on the party’s dismal electoral performance in 2023.