Nigeria’s Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has accused former Vice President Atiku Abubakar of putting personal ambition above party unity, warning that such self-serving behaviour threatens the survival of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Speaking during a media parley on April 18, Wike voiced his frustration over the internal conflicts within the PDP, especially concerning the issue of forming a united coalition in preparation for the next presidential elections. He criticised certain party leaders, including Atiku, for acting without due consultation with the party’s legally constituted organs.
Wike claimed Atiku cannot be trusted:
“I wanted power rotation, I could not have imagined that after eight years of Buhari, power goes to north again. It is not about whether you chose to field me or not, it’s about principle. To take that decision was difficult and a decision has to be taken and I looked at it, Atiku was not an option, so, he is a no go area,” he said.
The former Governor of Rivers State added that the main reason he opposed Atiku’s ambition was because of his lack of integrity.
“Let me tell you from day one, I told my delegates when they came that one thing you must know is that Atiku does not keep to his words,” Wike claimed.
Citing how Atiku, Saraki and Secondus allegedly deceived him in 2019, Wike said he knew from day one that Atiku wouldn’t choose him as his running mate. He (Wike) has never banked on the ex-Vice President’s words.
“The Governors’ forum is not an organ of the party. It is a pressure group that can only influence the National Working Committee (NWC), not override it,” Wike said.
In his remarks, Wike slammed moves to unilaterally appoint an acting National Secretary, despite the existence of a duly elected one. He stated emphatically, “You don’t have the authority to say that somebody should be acting as national secretary when there is a national secretary who has not resigned. You cannot do that.”
Wike suggested that the root of the crisis lies in individuals hijacking party processes to advance personal agendas. “Who is the one setting the foundation for crisis in the party?” he asked rhetorically. “Tomorrow you say PDP is in trouble. People don’t want peace. The other ones are those with selfish interests. The likes of Atiku and some other people in the party.”
He cautioned that INEC only recognises the signatures of the national chairman and national secretary and warned of the implications of disregarding proper procedures: “Who will be the one that will sign to INEC? And tomorrow you’re going to say, oh, PDP is in trouble.”
According to Wike, the right course of action should be through established party channels, not through governor forums or informal alliances. “The best way to go about this is to put your influence, get the results, and then you move on. But to come out openly to say, we the governors’ forum, we have met with the organs of the party — who are you to say that?”
As Nigerians gear up for the 2027 national election, Wike’s comments suggests a deepening divide that could undermine the PDP’s electoral prospects.
