Lere Olayinka, Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, has advised former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to abandon his 2027 presidential bid, claiming he is not destined to lead the country.
In a statement issued in Abuja, Olayinka said, “The PDP presidential ticket will no longer be available for serial betrayers, who are facing the consequences of their past actions against the party and its members.” He further urged Atiku to “let the PDP breathe” and give up on his 2027 aspirations, following comments from FCT Minister Ezenwo Nyesom Wike that Atiku would not secure the party’s nomination for 2027.
Atiku’s media aide, Phrank Shaibu, responded by citing Atiku’s past victories within the PDP, including defeating Wike for the 2023 presidential nomination and overcoming former Governor Aminu Tambuwal in 2019.
However, Olayinka dismissed these victories as insignificant, mocking Atiku’s “celebration” of his narrow defeat of Wike in the 2022 PDP primary as “funny and childish,” likening it to “Arsenal fans celebrating a narrow defeat of the Super Falcons.”
Olayinka also criticized Atiku for “venerating himself” for contesting the PDP ticket alongside Wike and Tambuwal—both young at the time—adding that Atiku’s ambitions should end. “It’s time for him to retire and stop acting like the aging cock that doesn’t realize its time has passed,” he said.
Olayinka argued that Atiku’s political ambitions were derailed by betrayals of the PDP in 2003, 2007, and 2014. “If not for his betrayals, the presidency could have been his to take, instead of repeatedly losing,” he stated. He also referenced Atiku’s 2007 decision to run under the Action Congress while still serving as Vice President under the PDP, calling it a blatant act of disloyalty.
Olayinka concluded by reiterating that Atiku’s actions, especially his role in the 2023 Lagos elections, would forever stain his political career. “Atiku, who loses and then flees to Dubai only to return for the next election, will not be the one to win the PDP ticket,” Olayinka declared
