If I were his son, I’d sit him down and ask: ‘Dad, how can you keep hopping from one party to another at almost 80 years old?
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has taken a swipe at former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, accusing him of being politically unstable and consistently switching parties in a relentless bid to become Nigeria’s president.
Speaking during a media chat held in Abuja on Monday, August 4, Wike criticised Abubakar’s long-standing pattern of political realignment, which he claimed is not rooted in ideology or national interest, but in a desperate pursuit of power.
Wike traced Abubakar’s trajectory across Nigeria’s political landscape, beginning from 1999 when the country transitioned into democratic governance. According to him, Abubakar’s political history is marked by constant movement from one platform to another in search of a presidential ticket.
“Atiku started with the PDP in 1999, then left for the Action Congress (AC). From AC, he returned to the PDP. He later moved to the All Progressives Congress (APC), and eventually returned to the PDP again,” Wike recounted. “All of these shifts have been driven solely by his ambition to become president.”
He went further to mock reports suggesting that Atiku might now be aligning with the African Democratic Congress (ADC), raising concern about the former Vice-President’s consistency and political principles.
“If I were his son, I’d sit him down and ask: ‘Dad, how can you keep hopping from one party to another at almost 80 years old?’” Wike remarked, in a tone that mixed derision with bewilderment.
The FCT Minister accused Abubakar of placing personal ambition above party loyalty and national development. He argued that such behavior undermines the credibility of any opposition movement in which Abubakar plays a leading role.
He also dismissed the integrity of the reported opposition coalition being formed to challenge President Bola Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). Wike claimed that the alliance lacks sincerity and is merely a platform for Abubakar to continue his presidential quest through another route.
“Let’s be honest. The way things are in the PDP now, it’s unlikely Atiku would secure the party’s presidential ticket again. So he’s not comfortable,” Wike said. “That is why he’s calling for a coalition against Tinubu. It has nothing to do with ideology—it’s purely personal.”
Wike concluded that Abubakar’s push for an opposition front was not driven by a commitment to democracy or governance reforms, but by sheer political desperation stemming from his inability to clinch his party’s nomination.