Wike fires back at Atiku, says I will ensure you lose again

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has declared that he will do everything within his power to ensure that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar fails in his push for the presidency.

Speaking through his media aide, Lere Olayinka, on Wednesday, Wike expressed no regrets over Atiku’s decision to overlook him as a running mate during the buildup to the 2023 presidential election.

The rift between the two political figures has continued to deepen, especially following Wike’s defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC) and his subsequent appointment as the FCT Minister under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

In an interview with Adesina Giwa-Osagie, Atiku said he had “no regrets” for ignoring Wike as his running mate in the 2023 presidential election.

Recall that the rift between Atiku and Wike dates back to the controversial PDP primaries of 2022.

Wike had expected to be compensated with the vice-presidential slot, but Atiku picked former Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa.

Addressing why he chose Okowa over Wike, Atiku stated that he deliberately left the decision to the PDP.

“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.

Atiku said 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,” he said.

Responding, Olayinka said Wike has no regret over losing the slot to Okowa.

Posting on X, Olayinka wrote: “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.”