You’re A Chronic Betrayer, PDP Presidential Ticket Can Never Be For You, Wike’s Aide Tells Atiku

Lere Olayinka, Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, has described former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, as a chronic betrayer who can never be given the presidential ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), hence, he should abandon his 2027 presidential ambitions.

In a statement issued in Abuja, Olayinka asserted that the 2023 PDP presidential candidate should no longer be considered for the party’s ticket, claiming that "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."

Olayinka further emphasized that Atiku should give up any thoughts of contesting the 2027 election under the PDP banner, stating, “Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and those pushing him for their own interests should allow the PDP to breathe.”

Recall that Wike, during a live media session in Abuja on Wednesday, said that Atiku would not be able to secure the PDP’s 2027 presidential ticket.

In response, Atiku's Media Aide, Phrank Shaibu, referenced 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.

However, Olayinka dismissed Atiku's claims as "childish" and "laughable," and likened his celebration of his narrow and controversial victory over Wike in the 2022 PDP primaries to "Arsenal fans celebrating their team’s narrow loss to the Super Falcons."

Olayinka continued, “Atiku seems to be taking pride in defeating Wike and Tambuwal—both of whom were barely in their twenties when he first ran for president in 1993, finishing third in the Social Democratic Party (SDP) primaries.

“This further proves that Atiku needs to retire and stop acting like an aging rooster unaware that it’s no longer the crowing king of the yard.”

Olayinka pointed to alleged past betrayals of the PDP in 2003, 2007, and 2014 by Atiku, which he said had cost him the opportunity to become president.

He argued, “If Atiku hadn’t been so driven by unchecked ambition, he could have easily claimed the presidency after his tenure as Vice President.

“But his desperation led him to leave the PDP and contest as the Action Congress candidate in 2007, while still serving as Vice President under the PDP’s platform.”

Olayinka also noted that Atiku’s conscience would continue to weigh on him, especially regarding his actions during the 2023 election in Lagos, adding that even Atiku's 2018 apology to PDP members would not erase the stain of betrayal.

Olayinka said, “Atiku's repeated pattern of abandoning the party and returning when it suits him shows that he is unfit to lead.

“The ticket of the PDP will not be available to someone like him, who contests, loses, and then runs off to Dubai, only to return when another election is approaching."

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