Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has criticised former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar for frequently changing political parties.
During a media briefing in Abuja on Monday, Wike highlighted Atiku’s consistent party-switching since Nigeria’s return to civilian rule in 1999. He pointed to the former vice-president’s recent defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as a typical example.
“Atiku was with the PDP in 1999, then moved to the Action Congress (AC). After AC, he returned to the PDP, later joined the All Progressives Congress (APC), and then went back to the PDP—all in pursuit of the presidential ticket,” Wike stated.
“If I were his son, I would sit him down and ask: ‘Dad, how can you keep hopping from one party to another at almost 80 years old?’”
Wike attributed Abubakar’s frequent moves to his unrelenting ambition to become president. He dismissed the opposition coalition against President Bola Tinubu and the APC, explaining that Atiku’s departure from the PDP was due to his slim chances of securing the party’s presidential ticket.
“The PDP today is not likely to give Atiku the ticket, so he’s uncomfortable. That’s why he pushes for a coalition against Tinubu. It’s not right,” Wike said.
“In reality, because he cannot get the presidential ticket under the PDP, he is advocating for a coalition.”
