Nyesom Wike, the minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), announced on Wednesday that he would make sure Atiku Abubakar, the former presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), fails in his bid.
In the lead-up to the 2023 presidential election, Wike stated through his media assistant Lere Olayinka that he has no regrets about Atiku’s decision to not choose him as his running mate.
Atiku stated that he had “no regrets” over not choosing Wike as his running partner in the 2023 presidential race in an interview with Adesina Giwa-Osagie.
remembers that the contentious PDP primary in 2022 is where Atiku and Wike first became estranged.
Wike had anticipated receiving compensation by being appointed vice president, but Atiku chose Ifeanyi Okowa, a former governor of Delta State.
When asked why he picked Okowa over Wike, Atiku said he purposefully let the PDP make the choice.
“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.
According to Atiku, Okowa was the committee’s top pick, followed by Wike in second 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.”
