If I were Atiku’s son, I’d ask why he keeps jumping between parties – Wike

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has taken a swipe at former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, accusing him of constantly switching political parties in pursuit of his long-standing ambition to become Nigeria’s president.

Speaking during a media parley in Abuja on Monday, August 4, Wike criticized what he described as Atiku’s “serial defections,” saying they reflect a pattern of political instability and desperation that dates back to the return of democratic governance in 1999.

“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,” Wike said.

Commenting on Abubakar’s latest reported move to the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Wike remarked, “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?’”

The minister accused the former vice-president of prioritising personal ambition over party stability and national interest.

Wike also dismissed the credibility of the emerging opposition coalition reportedly aimed at challenging President Bola Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), asserting that Abubakar’s motives are based on personal political calculations rather than a genuine agenda.

“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.”