ICYMI: Why I worked against PDP in 2023 Presidential election — Wike

Former Rivers State Governor and current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has defended his decision to oppose his Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, during the 2023 general elections.

Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Tuesday, Wike denied allegations of engaging in anti-party activities.

He explained that his decision to work against Atiku was driven by the principles of justice, equity, and fairness.

The FCT minister, who has been at loggerheads with the current governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, maintained that he has no regrets over his actions and owes no one an apology.

He said, “For the 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 and National Assembly election.

“For the presidency, 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.”

Ahead of the 2023 presidential election, Wike, along with four other PDP governors namely Samuel Ortom (Benue), Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia), and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu) formed a coalition (G5) opposing Atiku’s candidacy. They insisted that Senator Iyorchia Ayu step down as the PDP national chairman before they would back the party’s presidential campaign, a condition that the party failed to meet.

Atiku later lost the presidential election to Bola Tinubu, the then All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, under whose administration Wike now serves as a minister.

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