The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has defended his decision to oppose the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, during the 2023 general elections.
The minister, who spoke on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Tuesday, denied allegations of engaging in anti-party activities, explaining that his decision to work against Atiku was driven by the principles of justice, equity, and fairness.
The former Rivers State governor, who has been having a running battle with his successor, 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 governorship and National Assembly elections.
“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.”
In the months leading to the 2023 presidential election, Wike, along with four other PDP governors namely Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu), Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia), and Samuel Ortom (Benue), 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 the party failed to meet.
Consequently, 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.
