The FCT Minister and stalwart of the PDP, Nyesom Wike has slams former vice president Atiku Abubakar for ignoring to pick him as his running mate during the 2023 presidential elections with a promise that he would do everything possible to ditch the presidential ambition of Atiku again in 2027
Nyesom Wike, the Federal Capital Territory Minister, made a bold declaration that reverberated throughout Nigeria’s political landscape. “No regret losing VP slot, I will ensure you lose again,” he declared, emphasizing his determination to thwart former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar’s aspirations for the presidency.
Wike’s fierce response was articulated through his media aide, Lere Olayinka, who served as the mouthpiece for Wike’s unyielding conviction.
“I will ensure you lose again,” Wike asserted, illustrating that the bitterness of the past remains alive and well in their political rivalry.
Wike’s sentiment indicates a profound sense of indignation over Atiku’s decision during the contentious build-up to the 2023 elections. Atiku had seemingly dismissed Wike’s ambitions for the vice-presidential slot, which had raised questions about loyalty and solidarity within the party.
In an earlier interview, Atiku had voiced his own reflections, stating he had “no regrets” over the decision to overlook Wike as a potential running mate.
It’s evident that both leaders are entrenched in their positions, refusing to back down amidst the political tension that has been brewing since the 2022 PDP primaries.
The rift between Atiku and Wike, characterized by deep-seated grievances, traces back to the controversial PDP primaries of 2022. From Wike’s perspective, losing the vice-presidential nomination represented more than a mere political setback; it was a personal affront that signaled a lack of recognition for his contributions to the party.
Wike had anticipated being rewarded with the vice-presidential nomination, seeing it as a just compensation for his loyalty and efforts. Instead, Atiku opted for the former Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, a decision that Wike viewed as a betrayal of trust.
In recounting his reasoning for this decision, Atiku explained, “They said I did not consult widely in 2019 when I picked Peter Obi as my running mate, so in 2023, I told the party to set up a committee to recommend three names.” This approach was Atiku’s attempt to involve the party in a democratic selection process, yet it ultimately cast a long shadow over his relationship with Wike.
Atiku continued to elaborate on the committee’s conclusions. “The committee ranked Okowa as the top choice, with Wike in second place and former Akwa Ibom Governor Udom Emmanuel in third,” he stated, asserting a sense of rationale behind the decision that, to many, felt cold and calculated.
“So I picked number one,” he concluded nonchalantly, betraying little awareness of the storm he was stirring within his own party. His perspective indicates a chief’s prerogative, prioritizing party unity over personal ties—a gamble that seems to have backfired.
In Wike’s camp, Olayinka wasted no time in delivering a counterpoint, emphasizing Wike’s lack of regret over losing the vice-presidential slot to Okowa. The dynamic of mutual defiance was palpable.
Engaging with the audience on social media platform X, Olayinka tweeted, “Two years after making the @OfficialPDPNig lose a presidential election it could have won, @atiku is giving reasons he did not pick @GovWike as his running mate and that he has no regrets.”
The tweet encapsulated the essence of Wike’s sentiments—a detailed critique of Atiku’s leadership and a reassertion of his own decisive agency.
“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,” Olayinka continued, signaling that the battle lines have been drawn clearly.
This development is a tense political saga that reflects not only personal ambitions but also the larger struggle for power within the PDP, a party now more divided.
