"concentrate on addressing the shortcomings of the Bola Tinubu-led government rather than fixating on the 2027 elections." Atiku

 Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has urged the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, to concentrate on addressing the shortcomings of the Bola Tinubu-led government rather than fixating on the 2027 elections. 

This statement follows remarks made by Lere Olayinka, Wike's media aide, who asserted that Wike would make efforts to thwart Atiku Abubakar’s presidential aspirations in 2027, similar to what he did in 2023.

Olayinka's comments came in reaction to Atiku’s recent declaration that he has no regrets about not selecting Wike as his running mate during the 2023 presidential election. He emphasized Wike's role in Atiku's defeat, claiming, "Two years after making the PDP lose a presidential election it could have won, Atiku is giving reasons he did not pick Wike as his running mate and that he has no regrets. Someone should tell our serial presidential election contender that Wike also has no regret for ensuring that he failed in the election and will make sure that he fails again and again."

In response to this back-and-forth, Atiku’s aide, Paul Ibe, remarked to Vanguard, “Ordinarily, we would not dignify him with a response. However, it is insensitive for Wike to be discussing the 2027 elections when his principal, President Tinubu, has yet to fulfill his current mandate. Former Vice President Abubakar is focused on issues of nation-building and is more concerned with the welfare of Nigerians than the trivialities of Wike and others. The real question is: are Nigerians better off today than they were in 2023? What is the current cost of living compared to that of 2023?”