Why Atiku Can’t Be President — Nyesom Wike

Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, has explained why he believes former Vice President Atiku Abubakar cannot win the January 16, 2027 presidential election.

Wike said Atiku’s presidential ambition on the platform of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) violated the principle of political rotation, which he said was based on equity, fairness and justice.

The minister, who spoke during his televised monthly chat on the state of the nation, recalled that he opposed Atiku’s presidential bid on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2023 as a member of the Group of Five Governors, popularly known as the G5.

Wike reaffirmed his determination to support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s bid for a second term, saying he would not fold his arms and allow Atiku to win the 2027 election. He added that if the opposition formed the next government, he would be among the first major casualties.

‘I won’t fold my hands and allow Atiku to win’

Wike said he would not sit back and allow Atiku to emerge victorious in the 2027 presidential election.

He recalled how the G5 worked with former Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom to frustrate Atiku’s presidential ambition in the North Central state during the 2023 election, saying he had no apology for the decision.

The former Rivers State governor stressed that the decision to oppose Atiku was not taken by one individual but was a collective position of the five governors.

He said the outcome of the 2023 presidential election in Benue and other states reflected the impact of the G5’s opposition to Atiku.

According to him, the group’s position was driven by the need for equity, fairness and respect for the principle of power rotation within the PDP.

Wike said the PDP leadership failed to uphold the principle of balancing political power between the North and South ahead of the 2023 election.

The minister disclosed that he would regularly visit Rivers State, his political base, ahead of the 2027 election to coordinate consultations and mobilisation for President Tinubu’s second term.

He said the visits were not about relocating from Abuja but about maintaining contact with his political supporters and constituents.

Wike said: “You want me to fold my hands for Atiku Abubakar to come and win the election? No way.

“It’s not about relocating; it’s about coming home to relate with the people and talk to them, and also do those things you know how to do very well, not to take chances.

“So, I’m not relocating. I don’t need to relocate, but I also have to be in touch with my people so that I don’t just sit in Abuja and then say that everything is going on well there.”

The minister added that his family and political roots in Rivers State made it impossible for him to remain permanently disconnected from the people.

“My parents are still alive,” Wike said, explaining that his regular visits to the state were both personal and political.

He also declared his loyalty to President Tinubu, saying he was fully committed to the President’s re-election.

“Each day I sleep, I am thinking about the President’s re-election. When I am eating, I think about the President’s re-election. Everything I am doing now is about the President’s re-election,” he said.

‘Uzodimma, AbdulRazaq working against me’

Wike also alleged that Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma and Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq were working against him despite the support he said he had given them in the past.

He said he had confronted AbdulRazaq over what he described as hostility towards him.

“Take, for example, Kwara. He has been the one championing this campaign against me everywhere. Yes, I have confronted him too. I don’t talk about what I cannot defend,” Wike said.

The minister said AbdulRazaq had accused him of sponsoring candidates against his preferred choices in Kwara State.

However, Wike said the Kwara governor should appreciate the role he played in providing a platform for aggrieved All Progressives Congress (APC) members who defected to the PDP.

He argued that the politicians could have joined the opposition coalition against President Tinubu had he not provided them with an alternative platform.

On his relationship with Uzodimma, Wike said the Imo governor was aware of the support he had received from him in the past.

“Governor Hope, he knows the support I gave to him,” he said.

The minister, however, did not provide further details of his disagreement with the Imo governor.

He maintained that the disagreements would not distract him from his determination to work for President Tinubu’s re-election.

‘NBA acting like a political party’

Wike also criticised the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), accusing the professional body of abandoning its traditional role as an impartial defender of justice and the rule of law.

The minister alleged that the NBA had become partisan by taking political positions.

Wike, a lawyer, also criticised former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi, questioning his suitability for the office of Vice President based on his record in office.

He urged Nigerians to scrutinise the records of political leaders seeking elective positions, particularly those who present themselves as defenders of democracy and constitutionalism.

Wike said past actions of political leaders should not be ignored simply because they were seeking higher political offices.

He alleged that Amaechi, while governor of Rivers State, shut down courts in the state and caused hardship for residents.

The minister said anyone aspiring to occupy a sensitive executive position must have a record that demonstrates respect for democratic institutions, particularly the judiciary.

Wike said the NBA, which has historically been regarded as a major voice in the defence of constitutionalism and the rule of law, should resist being drawn into partisan politics.

“The NBA has now taken sides politically. They are now a political party,” he said.

Wike defends Edu

Wike also defended the participation of persons facing investigations in political campaign structures, arguing that an ongoing investigation does not strip anyone of the right to canvass votes.

He was reacting to the controversy surrounding the appointment of former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu, as Director of Women Mobilisation in the APC Presidential Campaign Council.

Edu was suspended by President Tinubu in January 2024 following allegations of financial impropriety and was subsequently investigated.

Wike questioned why a person under investigation should be prevented from participating in a political campaign when individuals facing criminal charges could contest elections and win.

“You were asking the moral justification of putting someone who has an EFCC case to be in a campaign council. And I was just watching the lady. The lady doesn’t even know what to say.

“Now, somebody cannot be in a campaign to canvass for votes for a particular person, but somebody who has an EFCC case can contest an election and win an election?” he said.

The minister recalled instances in which people facing criminal charges had contested elections and emerged as governors.

He maintained that an investigation or allegation should not be treated as a conviction until determined by a court.

Wike urges governors to account for subsidy allocations

The FCT minister also challenged the 36 state governors to account for how they had utilised increased revenues available to them following the removal of the petrol subsidy.

Wike said the Nigeria Governors’ Forum should ensure greater accountability, urging governors to provide evidence of how additional allocations had been used for projects, salaries, pensions and other public services.

He defended the subsidy removal, saying it had expanded the revenue available to the Federal Government, states and local governments.

According to him, increased revenues had strengthened the financial capacity of states to meet their obligations and reduced labour disputes arising from unpaid salaries.

Wike urged governors to present concrete evidence of how additional allocations had been deployed to develop their states.

He said the subsidy removal policy should not be judged solely by the controversy surrounding its implementation, but also by what governments had done with the additional resources at their disposal.

The minister stressed that governments should be prepared to account to citizens and demonstrate how increased revenues had translated into improved infrastructure, public services and other tangible benefits.