Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has responded to Atiku Abubakar’s remarks on the 2023 vice presidential selection, vowing to work against Atiku’s future presidential ambitions.  

Speaking through his media aide, Lere Olayinka, on Wednesday, Wike stated that he had no regrets about being overlooked as Atiku’s running mate. Instead, he reiterated his determination to ensure Atiku fails again in any future election bid.

Atiku, in a recent interview, explained that he chose Ifeanyi Okowa over Wike as his running mate because a PDP committee ranked Okowa as the first choice, with Wike coming second and Udom Emmanuel third.

Reacting to this, Olayinka said: “Two years after making the Peoples Democratic Party lose a presidential election it could have won, Atiku Abubakar is still giving reasons he did not pick Nyesom Wike as his running mate and saying that he has no regrets.” He continued on to say, “Someone should tell our serial presidential election contester that Wike also has no regret for ensuring that he failed in the election and will make sure that he fails again and again.”

The rift between Wike and Atiku dates back to the PDP’s 2022 primaries, where Wike expected the vice presidential slot as compensation for his role in the party. However, Atiku’s choice of Okowa further deepened their fallout, leading to Wike’s open support for the opposition during the 2023 election.