ABUJA — Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has taken a scathing swipe at former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, accusing him of lacking political stability and being driven solely by an unrelenting desire to become Nigeria’s president.
Speaking during a media parley in Abuja on Monday, Wike criticized Atiku’s repeated switches between political parties, labeling the moves as signs of desperation and opportunism — especially for someone approaching 80 years of age.
“Atiku was in the PDP in 1999, then he joined the Action Congress (AC). After AC, he returned to the PDP, later moved to the APC, and then back to the PDP again — all in pursuit of the presidential ticket,” Wike said.
Delivering a personal jab, Wike added: “If I were his son, I would sit him down and ask, ‘Dad, how can you keep hopping from one party to another at almost 80 years old?’”
The minister made the remarks in reaction to Atiku’s latest political move — reportedly defecting from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the African Democratic Congress (ADC), as part of a budding opposition coalition seeking to challenge President Bola Tinubu in 2027.
Wike dismissed the defection as a mere act of “political survival,” suggesting it was driven by Atiku’s realization that the PDP may not offer him another shot at the presidency.
“The way the PDP is now, it is not likely that Atiku would get the ticket. Therefore, he is uncomfortable. That’s why he says, ‘let’s form a coalition against Tinubu.’ It’s not right,” Wike declared.
He further alleged that Atiku’s push for a coalition is not about national interest but a fallback strategy after losing grip within his own party.
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