Lere Olayinka, the Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, has criticized former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, asserting that the People's Democratic Party (PDP) will not grant him its presidential ticket for the 2027 elections.
Olayinka accused Atiku of a pattern of betrayal and disloyalty to the party and its members, which he claims has eroded any trust needed for future candidacy.
This statement comes amid ongoing internal tensions within the PDP over leadership and direction ahead of the next general election.
Describing Atiku as a chronic betrayer in a statement in Abuja on Thursday, Olayinka said the 2023 PDP presidential candidate should no longer be considered for the party’s ticket, as the PDP presidential ticket will no longer be available to be wasted by serial betrayers of the party, who are now reaping the consequences of their past betrayals.
“Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and those pushing him for their own interests should allow the PDP to breathe,” he said.
Atiku’s media aide, Phrank Shaibu, in response to Wike’s remarks on Wednesday during a live media session in Abuja that Atiku would never secure the PDP’s 2027 presidential ticket as he has been rejected by Nigerians, had said that Atiku’s previous victories, including his defeat of Wike to win the 2023 PDP presidential ticket, as well as his triumph over former Governor Aminu Tambuwal in the 2019 primaries, was too much for the FCT Minister to bear.
While reacting to Shaibu’s comments, Olayinka, a former aide to ex-Governor Ayo Fayose of Ekiti State, said the claims from Atiku’s camp were childish and laughable.