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| (Image: Channels Television) |
In a recent development, Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has promised to block all former Vice President Atiku Abubakar's future presidential ambitions. This statement comes after Atiku clarified his decision on a running mate for the 2023 presidential race.
The tension between Wike and Atiku goes way back to the 2022 Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) primaries. Once Atiku snagged the party's nomination, he had the important job of choosing a vice-presidential candidate. He ended up picking Ifeanyi Okowa, who was the Governor of Delta State at the time. This choice didn’t sit well with Wike, who had been hoping for that position himself.
When discussing his decision, Atiku explained that he had handed over the selection process to a PDP committee to allow for more extensive consultation. As per Pulse Nigeria, Atiku recalled; "They said I didn’t consult with the party enough," referring to the criticisms he faced during his 2019 campaign. The committee came back with three candidates: Okowa, Wike, and the former Governor of Akwa Ibom, Udom Emmanuel, ranking them in that order. Atiku made it clear, "So I picked number one."
Reacting to Atiku's comments, Wike, through his media aide Lere Olayinka, made it clear that he has no regrets about the vice-presidential pick. Olayinka took to social media to assert that Wike is determined to ensure Atiku faces electoral defeats in the future. According to his X post; He remarked, "Someone should inform our frequent presidential candidate that Wike has no regrets about making sure he lost the last election, and he will continue to ensure that he fails time and time again."
Two years after making the @OfficialPDPNig
— Lere Olayinka - Aresa 1 (@OlayinkaLere) March 26, 2025
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.
Someone should tell our serial presidential election contester that Wike also has no…
This ongoing feud highlights the internal struggles within the PDP, which could impact its strategic direction and unity as they gear up for future elections. The public back-and-forth emphasizes the complexities of political alliances and the consequences of leadership choices within the party.
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