Lere Olayinka, spokesperson for the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has claimed that any opposition movement led by former PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, is bound to fail.
Olayinka asserted that Atiku would readily defect to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) if President Bola Tinubu promised to hand over power to him in 2027.
The comment came in response to Atiku’s recent visit to former President Muhammadu Buhari in Kaduna, which has sparked political speculation.
Atiku, along with former governors Nasir El-Rufai (Kaduna), Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto), and Gabriel Suswam (Benue), met with Buhari on Friday. The former Vice President later explained that the visit was merely a Sallah homage.
Olayinka, however, dismissed the explanation, suggesting that Atiku’s actions were politically motivated and sarcastically urged him to extend similar courtesy to former President Olusegun Obasanjo during Lisabi Day celebrations in Abeokuta.
In a post shared via Facebook, Olayinka wrote:
“Those of us who have sense know that any opposition being led by Atiku is a failure from the beginning. The reason is simple: if tomorrow President Tinubu calls Atiku and tells him, ‘Don’t worry, I will hand over to you in 2027, just join APC,’ he (Atiku) will be in the APC immediately.”
He added:
“I’m still waiting for Atiku to carry body and go to Abeokuta to pay Lisabi Day homage to OBJ sha. Also, we are doing Egungun Festival in my hometown next month. Let him not forget to pay Egungun Festival homage to us in Okemesi Ekiti.”
Olayinka’s remarks have stirred further debate as the 2027 elections begin to emerge on Nigeria’s political horizon.