Wike Declares He Will Oppose Atiku Again in Future Elections

Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike has stated that he has no regrets about not being selected as Atiku Abubakar’s running mate in the 2023 presidential election. He also vowed to actively work against Atiku’s future political ambitions, ensuring that the former vice president faces another defeat if he contests again.

Atiku, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), recently addressed the decision to pick Ifeanyi Okowa over Wike as his running mate. According to Atiku, a PDP committee had recommended Okowa as the best choice for the position, and he stood by that decision, saying he had “no regrets” over it.

Wike, in response, dismissed Atiku’s comments and made it clear that he remains opposed to him. Speaking through his media aide, Lere Olayinka, Wike asserted that just as he played a role in Atiku’s loss in the 2023 election, he would make sure Atiku fails again if he contests in the future.

Wike’s opposition to Atiku is not new. The former Rivers State governor was a key figure in the PDP crisis leading up to the 2023 election. He led a faction known as the G5, a group of five PDP governors who refused to support Atiku’s presidential bid due to internal disagreements within the party. The G5 argued that it was unfair for Atiku, a northerner, to be the party’s flagbearer when the PDP national chairman at the time, Iyorchia Ayu, was also from the North. Wike and his allies demanded Ayu’s resignation, but their calls were ignored, leading them to withhold their support for Atiku.

Wike’s role in the 2023 election was widely seen as a major factor in PDP’s struggles. His alliance with opposition figures and refusal to back Atiku contributed to divisions within the party, weakening its chances against the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). After the election, Wike accepted a ministerial position in President Bola Tinubu’s administration, further straining his ties with the PDP. His decision to join Tinubu’s government was viewed by many as a sign that he had shifted his loyalty away from the PDP.

Despite these developments, Atiku has remained politically active, continuing to criticize Tinubu’s administration and expressing interest in contesting again. His recent comments about his choice of Okowa over Wike have reignited tensions between him and the FCT minister.

Wike’s latest remarks signal that the rivalry between him and Atiku is far from over. His pledge to ensure Atiku’s defeat in future elections suggests that he may continue to align himself with forces opposed to the former vice president. With Nigeria’s next presidential election still years away, political observers will be watching closely to see how this feud influences the country’s political landscape.