The minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has criticised former Vice President Atiku Abubakar for pushing a coalition of opposition parties ahead of the 2027 presidential election, accusing him of prioritising personal ambition over party unity.
Atiku, a founding member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has been at the forefront of calls to form a political coalition to challenge President Bola Tinubu in the next general election. He recently suggested that the coalition could adopt a new platform that promises good governance.
However, speaking during a media chat on Friday, Wike dismissed Atiku’s efforts as a self-serving strategy aimed at securing the 2027 presidential ticket for himself.
“This is not about building a strong opposition,” Wike said. “It’s about personal interest—everyone wants to be president, but no one is committed to strengthening the PDP to make it a viable alternative.”
Wike also recalled that PDP governors had previously rejected coalition talks, reaffirming the party’s openness only to individuals willing to join and work within the PDP structure.
He accused Atiku of repeating the same missteps that, according to him, contributed to the party’s defeat in the 2023 elections.
“You made the mistake yesterday, and you want to make it again today,” Wike said. “Then when you lose, you claim you were rigged out. But the truth is, you rigged yourself out by sowing discord within the party.”
The former Rivers State governor urged party leaders to focus on rebuilding the PDP from within instead of seeking alternative platforms driven by individual ambitions.
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