FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike
Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister , Nyesom Wike unleashed a sharp rebuke against former Sokoto Governor Aminu Tambuwal and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar, branding them as unreliable political flip-floppers driven by self-interest.
Speaking on Channels Television’s _Politics Today_ on Thursday, Wike dismissed Tambuwal’s recent endorsements as hollow, emphasizing the role of personal loyalty in true leadership.
“What do you mean by leadership and friendship? You cannot talk about leadership and ignore the person,” Wike declared, underscoring his frustration with what he sees as opportunistic alliances.
Wike didn’t hold back on the accusations, pointing to a pattern of disloyalty.
“These are people who have been consistently inconsistent. When you are a consistent betrayer, what do you expect?” he charged, alleging that Tambuwal had secretly angled for a Senate position under a potential Atiku presidency.
He further claimed both figures have a history of jumping ship between parties whenever it suits their ambitions, eroding trust in Nigerian politics.
*Tambuwal’s counter: Loyalty to principles over friendship*
The feud traces back to Tambuwal’s own appearance on the same program earlier this month, where he openly prioritized Atiku’s leadership credentials over Wike’s personal ties. “When it comes to leadership of this country and leadership of the people, I would rather support Atiku than Nyesom Wike,” Tambuwal stated firmly, framing his decision as rooted in sound governance rather than old friendships.
Tambuwal portrayed his political stances as principled battles, not vendettas.
Reflecting on past clashes with figures like former President Goodluck Jonathan, he explained, “It is a collaboration; it is not something difficult.
“Once it is about being altruistic and nothing personal. We disagreed on principle, the way and the direction things were going.” He even extended an olive branch amid the tension, insisting the rift remains professional: “If Atiku comes in here and Wike requests my phone, I will give it to him as a personal friend.”
This public spat is just the latest flare-up in a simmering conflict that ignited during the 2023 PDP primaries. Wike, a key Southern powerbroker, had lambasted Atiku, Tambuwal, and ex-Senate President Bukola Saraki for ditching an informal zoning agreement that would have tilted the presidential ticket toward the South, leaving him feeling sidelined.
Yet Wike highlighted his own olive branches from the past, recalling how he once defied party lines to champion Tambuwal’s successful 2015 bid for Speaker of the House of Representatives—support that came at personal political cost. The exchange lays bare the PDP’s internal fractures, where ideological divides and power plays continue to overshadow unity ahead of future elections.
