Nyesom Wike, the minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has taken a swipe at former vice president Atiku Abubakar over his frequent defections across Nigeria’s major political parties, saying his actions are driven by a desperate ambition to become president.

Speaking during a media parley in Abuja on Monday, August 4, Wike questioned Atiku’s political consistency and described his movement from one party to another as unbecoming, especially for someone nearing 80 years of age.

Legit.ng reported that Atiku resigned from the PDP, citing irreconcilable differences within the party.

But reacting on Monday, Wike said:

“Atiku was in the PDP in 1999, then he joined the Action Congress (AC). After AC, he returned to the PDP, later moved to the All Progressives Congress (APC), and then back to the PDP again, all in pursuit of the presidential ticket.”

As reported by Vanguard, Wike continued with a personal jibe:

“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?”

2027: Wike speaks on Atiku’s coalition plans

Meanwhile, Legit.ng reported Atiku after dumping the PDP, announced the adoption of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as its coalition platform to challenge President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027.

Peter Obi of the Labour Party, Rotimi Amaechi, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai and other influential politicians openly aligned with the ADC coalition platform, although several of them have yet to formally declare for the party.

But speaking during the media parley on Monday, Wike dismissed the ADC's move, describing it as nothing more than political survival.

“The way the PDP is now, it is not likely that Atiku would get a ticket, therefore it is not comfortable. Therefore, he tells you, ‘let’s do a coalition against Tinubu.’ It’s not right,” he said.

“It is because he cannot get the presidential ticket under the PDP that he pushed for a coalition.”