Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has dismissed the prospects of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar securing the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ticket for the 2027 general election, declaring that it “simply will not happen.”
In a live media session on Wednesday evening in Abuja, Wike argued that Atiku had already presented his vision to the Nigerian electorate but was repeatedly rejected.
The former Vice President, who was the PDP’s candidate in the 2023 presidential election, had recently stated that, had he won, his administration would have done things differently from President Bola Tinubu’s, thereby alleviating the current economic challenges Nigerians are facing.
Responding to this, Wike said: “Did Atiku not present his blueprint before Nigerians? Did they choose him? He is lobbying for another chance, but it won’t happen. Which party? How long can we keep using one man?”
Drawing a comparison with the United States, Wike said, “Look at America. Despite criticisms of Donald Trump, Americans made a decision that was in the best interest of their country. Similarly, Nigerians heard Atiku’s proposals in 2023, appreciated them, but ultimately decided it wasn’t the right choice. Criticism does not equate to the opposition being effective.”
