Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), recently cast doubt on former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s prospects of securing the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) nomination for the 2027 presidential race.
During a live media interview on Wednesday in Abuja, Wike pointed out that Atiku’s policy proposals have been repeatedly presented to the Nigerian people and consistently dismissed by voters.
Former Vice President Atiku, the PDP’s presidential candidate in 2023, recently asserted that his administration would have provided relief from the current hardships faced by Nigerians under President Bola Tinubu.
Responding to this, Wike questioned the viability of giving Atiku another chance, saying, “Did he (Atiku) not present his blueprint to Nigerians? Did they choose him?”
“He is lobbying for another chance, but that chance will not be there. In which party? How can we rely on one individual for so many years?”.
Drawing an analogy with U.S. politics, Wike compared the decision-making process to American voters’ choices, emphasizing that citizens often prioritize the nation’s welfare when casting their ballots, regardless of individual opinions on candidates.
He suggested that while criticisms are part of the democratic landscape, the Nigerian public had assessed Atiku’s vision in 2023 and opted for a different path.