ABUJA: Lere Olayinka, media aide to Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, has vowed to sabotage former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s presidential aspirations for 2027.
Olayinka’s declaration came in response to Atiku’s recent comments about his decision not to pick Wike as his running mate in the 2023 presidential election.
Atiku, who was the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) candidate in the last election, had disclosed that a committee had presented him with three potential vice-presidential candidates:
Wike, former Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, and ex-Akwa Ibom Governor Udom Emmanuel. Atiku, in a statement, explained that he had no regrets about not selecting Wike as his running mate.
In response, Olayinka took to X (formerly Twitter) on Wednesday, dismissing Atiku’s comments. He stated that Wike, too, had no regrets about not being picked for the vice-presidential slot, adding that the former governor played a key role in Atiku’s defeat in the 2023 election.
Olayinka emphasized that Wike would work tirelessly to ensure that Atiku fails in his 2027 presidential bid.
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Olayinka’s post read: 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 contender that Wike also has no regret for ensuring that he failed in the election and will make sure that he fails again and again.”
Atiku, who has contested the presidency multiple times, has recently hinted at forming a coalition of opposition leaders aimed at unseating President Bola Tinubu in 2027. This has sparked widespread speculation about who would lead the coalition and potentially be its presidential candidate.
Figures like former Labour Party candidate Peter Obi and ex-Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai have been mentioned as potential leaders of the movement.
When asked whether he would run for the presidency again in 2027, Atiku refrained from making a definitive statement. He emphasized that the formation of a strong political platform would be a critical prerequisite before making any decisions.
I don’t know because there has to be, first of all, a viable platform, more than any other time in the political history of this country, particularly since the return of democracy, Atiku said.
While he did not rule out another presidential bid, Atiku stressed the importance of experienced and credible leadership for Nigeria, especially given the current political climate.
He also drew parallels between the current opposition movement and the 2014 merger that led to the formation of the All Progressives Congress (APC), which eventually secured victory in the presidential race.
We had a similar merger in 2014. About four of us, or is it three? We all ran for president, and one of us emerged.
We all supported the one who emerged, and he won, Atiku reflected, hinting that a similar collaboration could unfold for the 2027 election.
