A dramatic political move has unfolded in the Federal Capital Territory ahead of the area council elections, as a candidate from a party associated with major opposition figures has openly sought the backing of a key figure in the ruling party.
ADC Candidate Makes Direct Appeal to FCT Minister
Moses Paul, the candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) for the chairmanship of the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), has publicly appealed to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, for support. The AMAC election is scheduled to hold on February 21, 2026.
This appeal is particularly striking because the ADC is the party adopted by a coalition movement that included opposition leaders Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Peter Obi of the Labour Party. Both men contested against President Bola Tinubu in the 2023 presidential election and are considered political adversaries of Minister Wike, who is a prominent member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Governance Style Alignment and "Mr. Project" Tag
In an interview reported by The Cable on Sunday, January 11, 2026, Paul justified his appeal by stating that his governance philosophy aligns with Wike's focus on performance and project delivery. He referenced Wike's recent criticism of the current AMAC administration for failing to provide operational vehicles to security agencies.
Paul recalled Wike comparing the situation to his own tenure as Chairman of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area in Rivers State, where he left traceable achievements. The ADC candidate claimed he already meets this benchmark of tangible results, even without having held the chairman's office. He cited his support for renovating primary schools and improving primary healthcare centres within AMAC as evidence.
Embracing a nickname famously associated with Wike, Paul described himself as "Mr. Project" and stressed that his mission mirrors the Minister's: project delivery and accountability.
Mixed Public Reactions and Political Calculations
The candidate's move has sparked a flurry of reactions from Nigerians, revealing the complex political undercurrents at play.
Some social media commentators criticized Paul's logic. One user, Philips, questioned: "He shares WIKE views on performance-driven governance, and he's a follower of a poor performance-driven governor, is it that he doesn't know the meaning of performance?"
Others pointed out the apparent contradiction in seeking support from Wike while being a candidate of a party linked to Peter Obi. Ola Alex remarked: "No bi juju be dat. Wike should support the candidate of Peter Obi ? Fa ffa foul."
Another commenter, Samlos, highlighted the fluid nature of local politics: "The current AMAC was in PDP, he ported to APC, still nah the same person." This suggests a perception that the appeal may be more about pragmatic alignment for electoral success than deep ideological shifts.
The development occurs against the backdrop of other significant moves into the ADC, including the recent defection of veteran journalist Dele Momodu from the PDP. Momodu stated his move was motivated by a desire to promote national interests and prevent a one-party state, not personal ambition.
As the February 21 election date approaches, Moses Paul's direct appeal to Nyesom Wike sets the stage for a highly contested race, testing the weight of governance rhetoric against established political affiliations in the Abuja area council.
