The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has taken a direct swipe at former Vice President Atiku Abubakar over his current efforts to form a coalition of opposition political parties ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Wike, during a media interview on Friday, criticized Atiku’s latest political move, saying it mirrors the same strategy that led to the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) defeat in 2023. He noted that instead of trying to strengthen the party that gave him a platform, Atiku seems more focused on creating a new alliance for personal ambition.
Atiku, a founding figure of the PDP, recently started leading discussions around bringing opposition parties together under a single banner. He suggested that the coalition would present a united front and offer a better alternative to the current administration led by President Bola Tinubu. According to him, this coalition would use a new political platform that prioritizes good governance.
But Wike is not buying it. He believes the former Vice President is simply looking for another chance to clinch the presidential ticket — even if it comes at the cost of his party’s unity.
“On the side of those seeking coalition is selfish interest, the likes of Atiku and other people. Which coalition with who? Why not come to your party?” Wike asked during the interview. He added that many top politicians are more interested in their personal ambition to become president than they are in building a strong and competitive party.
He also referred to the 2023 elections, blaming internal rifts and Atiku’s previous actions for the PDP’s loss. “You make the mistake yesterday, you want to repeat the same mistake today, tomorrow you make the same mistake and then you come out to say you were rigged out, who rigged you out? You’ve already rigged yourself by causing crisis,” Wike said.
Recently, PDP governors rejected the idea of a coalition, stating that their party is open only to individuals who genuinely want to work within its structure — not those seeking to sideline it.
Wike also noted that such coalitions, formed out of convenience and ambition, do not build lasting political strength. He stressed the importance of staying loyal to one’s party and investing in its growth, rather than jumping ship whenever personal goals aren’t met.
He ended by warning that if Atiku continues down this path, the result in 2027 may be no different from what happened in the last election — another internal crisis, another defeat.
