Prioritise Nigerians not 2027 elections — Atiku replies Wike

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has urged Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike to prioritise the welfare of Nigerians over politicking for the 2027 presidential election.

The Former VP made this known in response to comments by Wike during a media parley on Wednesday.

Recall that Wike at a media parley had advised Atiku to abandon hopes of running as the PDP candidate in 2027.

Wike stated, “He is lobbying for another chance, but the chance will not be there. In which party? How can we rely on one man for so many years?” implying that Atiku’s prospects of securing the PDP ticket are slim.

In a statement issued by his Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku reminded Wike of his unsuccessful attempts to install his preferred candidate within the party since 2019.

Shaibu added, “If he had the power to distribute presidential tickets like party favours, he’d certainly have kept one for himself. Atiku schooled him and his chosen protégé in his own backyard in 2019 and then handed him a resounding defeat in the 2023 primaries in Abuja.”

Shaibu also questioned Wike’s focus on 2027, especially given his public support for Tinubu’s potential re-election, suggesting that Wike should prioritise the immediate challenges facing Nigerians.

“People are struggling with rising costs and hunger; these are the issues we should be addressing, not political manoeuvres for 2027,” Shaibu noted.