“Working against Atiku, PDP in 2023 elections not anti-party, I don’t regret it” — Wike

FCT Minister Nyesom Wike stated on Tuesday that he has no regrets about his decision to work against the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate, Atiku Abubakar during the 2023 presidential election.

Wike, who appeared on Channels Television’s Politics Today emphasized his commitment to what he believes is right for the country, despite any backlash he may have faced from party members.

He denied engaging in anti-party activities by refusing to support Atiku Abubakar, the then PDP presidential candidate.

He defended his decision, saying it was taken for the sake of justice and fairness.

He said, “For presidential election, I said I am going to support equity, fairness and justice. In the other one, I am going to support my party and that is why we won the governor, National Assembly election.

“For presidential, I have no apologies because I don’t believe in injustice. Today people say ‘discipline Wike, he did anti-party.’ I did not do anti-party.”

Recall that Wike, who was the governor of Rivers State at the time of 2023 general elections aligned himself with four other dissatisfied PDP governors: Samuel Ortom from Benue, Seyi Makinde from Oyo, Okezie Ikpeazu from Abia, and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi from Enugu, to oppose Atiku’s presidential ambitions.

The five governors had been consistent in their demand that Senator Iyorchia Ayu step down as PDP national chairman as a precondition for them to support the presidential ambition of the party’s flag bearer, Atiku Abubakar.

Atiku later lost the presidential election to the then candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, under whose government he is serving as minister.