Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), recently dismissed any possibility for former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to secure the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ticket for the 2027 general elections. Speaking directly on the matter, Wike confidently stated that Atiku’s chances are “nonexistent.”

During a live media discussion held in Abuja, Wike explained that Atiku had shared his political ideas with Nigerians several times, only to face continuous rejection. Wike highlighted that Atiku has not been able to convince the electorate, who seem to prefer other choices each election cycle.

Atiku, the PDP’s candidate in the 2023 elections, recently voiced his belief that if he had won, he would have led the country differently than President Bola Tinubu, suggesting that his policies would have alleviated the hardships Nigerians are currently facing. However, Wike argued that this “different approach” has already been heard and dismissed by Nigerians.

Wike went on to question why one person should be relied upon repeatedly, saying, “Didn’t Nigerians hear his plans clearly and say, ‘No, thank you’? Why push for another chance? It won’t happen, especially not within the PDP.”

He then compared Atiku’s situation to political decisions made in the United States, where he mentioned former President Trump’s controversial standing. Wike pointed out that while some Americans criticized Trump, they still made choices that they believed would benefit the nation. He emphasized that even strong criticisms of leadership choices do not necessarily equate to active opposition.