Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has declared that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar is politically unreliable, accusing him of deception regarding the selection of his running mate in the 2023 presidential election.
Wike, speaking through his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka, criticized Atiku for claiming he picked former Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, based on the recommendation of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) selection committee.
According to Olayinka, Atiku’s assertion was false, as the committee had preferred Wike as the running mate, but the former vice president opted for Okowa instead.
In a statement issued on Sunday in Abuja, Olayinka described Atiku’s justification for his choice of running mate as a face-saving attempt and a continuation of previous falsehoods.
“Report of the committee was released to set the records straight, and this has made Atiku and his men confess that in selecting his running mate, he did not follow the recommendation of the PDP committee. He simply picked who he wanted, not who the party wanted,” the statement read.
Olayinka further accused Atiku’s media office of admitting that the final decision on a running mate rests solely with the presidential candidate, effectively confirming that Atiku had no regard for the PDP’s decision-making process.
The FCT Minister maintained that he was never interested in being Atiku’s running mate due to the political baggage Atiku carried. He also stated that while Atiku had the right to choose his running mate, he should take responsibility for the outcome rather than attempt to rewrite history.
“As for his choice of running mate in 2019 and 2023, it is our position that Atiku had the right to make whatever choice, and he should be honest enough to accept the consequences. No one is harboring ill feelings against him for failing with the choice he made,” Olayinka stated.
Wike’s camp also questioned Atiku’s current commitment to the PDP, suggesting that his frequent defections and presidential ambitions across different political platforms have weakened the party’s stability.
“It is necessary for Atiku to first come clear on which party he belongs to now, because PDP has not formed a coalition with any political party. His penchant for contesting elections under any available party has remained PDP’s major albatross,” Olayinka concluded.
The latest verbal exchange between Wike and Atiku signals a continued rift within the PDP, raising concerns about the party’s ability to remain united ahead of future elections.
