The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has declared that he has no regrets about being overlooked as Atiku Abubakar’s running mate in the 2023 presidential election.
He also vowed to ensure that the former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate fails in any future attempts at the presidency.
Wike, speaking through his media aide, Lere Olayinka, responded to Atiku’s recent statement in which he expressed no regrets over his decision to pick former Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa as his running mate instead of Wike.
In an interview with Adesina Giwa-Osagie, Atiku explained that he deliberately allowed the PDP to decide his running mate to avoid accusations of unilateral decision-making.
“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,” Atiku said.
According to him, the committee ranked Okowa as the top choice, with Wike in second place and former Akwa Ibom Governor Udom Emmanuel in third. “So I picked number one,” Atiku stated.
Wike’s rift with Atiku dates back to the controversial PDP primaries of 2022, after which he had expected to be compensated with the vice-presidential slot. However, Atiku’s decision to bypass him deepened their political divide.
Reacting to Atiku’s remarks, Olayinka, in a post on X (formerly Twitter), said Wike remains unbothered about losing the vice-presidential position but is determined to ensure Atiku’s continued failure.
“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.
“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.”
The political feud between Wike and Atiku remains one of the most significant intra-party rivalries in the PDP, shaping the dynamics ahead of future elections.
