The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has fired back at former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and media mogul Dele Momodu over recent claims that he was behind Peter Obi’s exit from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and has undermined party unity.
In a strongly worded statement on Wednesday, Wike’s Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka, described Momodu as a “fairweather friend” whose loyalty to Atiku is allegedly fueled by financial incentives. He further dismissed allegations that Wike drove Obi out of the PDP, branding such assertions as “baseless.”
“We are hearing all this noise from him because Atiku is paying his bills. Let Atiku stop paying, Oga Dele Momodu will move to the next victim,” Olayinka said.
The comments were in response to Momodu’s recent public claim that Wike’s actions had led to Obi’s defection to the Labour Party, where he contested the 2023 presidential election.
Olayinka also accused Atiku of being a divisive force within the PDP since 2003, alleging that the former vice president sabotaged the party’s bid to win Lagos State and later disregarded zoning arrangements by declaring his interest in the 2023 presidential race even before the PDP’s zoning committee concluded its work.
“Atiku has been the weapon fashioned against the PDP since he frustrated the party’s efforts to win Lagos State in 2003,” he said.
He criticized the narrative that Atiku supported a South-East candidate, arguing that his early presidential declaration contradicted any genuine intent to allow zoning to the region. “Dele Momodu claimed Atiku wanted the PDP to field a candidate from the South-East, but conveniently ignored the fact that Atiku had already declared his interest,” he said.
Olayinka also pointed to the departure of several top PDP figures from Atiku’s camp—including Senator Gbenga Daniel, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, Udom Emmanuel, and Governor Umo Eno—as proof of widespread dissatisfaction with Atiku’s leadership style.
“Why did everyone who worked closely with Atiku during the 2019 and 2023 elections leave him afterwards? The reason can only be because someone is a selfish person who is only about himself alone,” he stated.
Efforts to reach Atiku’s spokesperson, Paul Ibe, and Dele Momodu for comments were unsuccessful at the time of filing this report. Calls to their phones were not answered, and text messages had not been returned.
The development adds to the growing internal tensions within the PDP as the 2027 general elections approach.
