The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has reaffirmed that he never supported Atiku Abubakar’s presidential bid in the 2023 general elections, stressing that his stance was rooted in his firm belief in equity, fairness, and justice.
He made this known on Monday during a media chat where he clarified that from the onset, he made his position known and never attended any meetings aimed at supporting Atiku’s candidacy.
“I made it very clear that I was not going to support Atiku Abubakar,” Wike said. “I did not attend their meetings, because I believe it was the turn of the South to produce the presidency in 2023. I never hid it. So the issue of being double-faced does not arise.”
Responding to claims that he supported Atiku publicly but later acted otherwise, the former Rivers State governor maintained that he was consistent in his stance. “They said I was at their campaign and spoke in their favour. That would have been double-faced. But from day one, I said no. I said I’m not going to support them,” he stated.
Wike explained that when it came to choosing between the two major alternatives, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Labour Party, he evaluated both based on who, in his judgment, could win the election and deliver on leadership.
“In my judgment, Bola Ahmed Tinubu had the best chance to win and also the ability to take Nigeria out of where it was. And I was right—Tinubu won,” Wike said.
He also defended his current role in the APC-led government, drawing historical parallels. “People forget history. When Bola Tinubu, a prominent opposition figure, became Attorney General of the Federation, people still questioned it. But we must look beyond partisanship when it comes to nation-building,” he added.