In a sharp rebuke of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s political aspirations, Lere Olayinka, the Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, declared that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will not consider Atiku for its presidential ticket in 2027.
Olayinka, speaking in Abuja on Thursday, described Atiku as a “chronic betrayer” whose repeated actions have fractured party unity.
Olayinka’s statements came amid mounting tensions following remarks made by Phrank Shaibu, Atiku’s media aide, who defended his principal against Wike’s recent claims that Atiku had lost favor within the PDP.
During a media session earlier in the week, Wike asserted that Atiku’s chances of securing the party’s nomination for 2027 were nonexistent, alleging that he had been overwhelmingly rejected by Nigerians.
Shaibu countered by highlighting Atiku’s past victories within the PDP, such as his triumphs over Wike in the 2023 presidential primaries and against former Governor Aminu Tambuwal in 2019. Shaibu suggested these wins had left Wike embittered and unable to move past political defeats.
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However, Olayinka dismissed these claims as “childish and laughable,” pointing out that Atiku’s political record is marked by betrayal and opportunism. “Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and those pushing him for their own interests should allow the PDP to breathe,” Olayinka said.
He referenced Atiku’s first presidential bid in 1993 under the Social Democratic Party (SDP), where he placed third, as evidence of his long, ambition-fueled political journey.
“Atiku seems to be taking pride in defeating Wike and Tambuwal—both of whom were barely in their twenties when he first ran for president,” Olayinka remarked.
“This further proves that Atiku needs to retire and stop acting like an aging rooster unaware that it’s no longer the crowing king of the yard.”
Olayinka highlighted Atiku’s history of leaving the PDP and aligning with other parties when convenient. He cited the 2007 presidential election, where Atiku ran as the Action Congress (AC) candidate while still serving as Vice President under a PDP administration.
“If Atiku hadn’t been so driven by unchecked ambition, he could have easily claimed the presidency after his tenure as Vice President,” Olayinka noted. He argued that Atiku’s cyclical departures and returns to the PDP undermine his credibility and commitment to the party’s values.
According to Olayinka, such a pattern reveals a leader whose motivations are self-serving, making him unfit to lead the PDP or the nation.
“The ticket of the PDP will not be available to someone like him, who contests, loses, and then runs off to Dubai, only to return when another election is approaching,” he added.
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Touching on the 2023 elections, Olayinka suggested that Atiku’s conscience would remain burdened by his actions, particularly in Lagos, where accusations of betrayal and strategic missteps tainted his campaign.
He also referenced Atiku’s public apology to PDP members in 2018, claiming it fell short of absolving him of past transgressions. “Apologies are easy; actions are harder. The PDP needs a leader who is present, committed, and consistent,” Olayinka said.
The remarks from Wike’s camp are part of a broader discourse within the PDP, as members weigh loyalty, leadership, and strategy ahead of the 2027 elections.
For now, the prospect of Atiku returning as the party’s flagbearer appears bleak, with influential voices urging a new chapter for the PDP—one that does not include candidates perceived as serial defectors or divisive figures.
This public exchange underscores the deep-rooted challenges facing the PDP as it seeks to rebuild unity and reassert its position ahead of future electoral contests.
Whether Atiku can regain favor or will be sidelined as Olayinka predicts remains a contentious topic that will shape the party’s internal politics in the years to come.