Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, on Thursday launched a strong political offensive against former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, declaring him a “serial failure” and insisting he stands no chance in the 2027 presidential race.
Wike spoke shortly after inspecting ongoing road projects across the Territory, where he combined progress updates with pointed political remarks, defending the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and dismissing opposition criticisms.
Taking a swipe at Atiku over comments that the current government has not done enough, Wike said Nigerians would find such claims laughable, urging the former vice president to compare the present state of the FCT with what obtained during his time in office.
“Let him compare Abuja now and when he was Vice President for eight years. We have not spent up to three years, but look at the difference,” Wike said, adding that even Atiku’s former principal, Olusegun Obasanjo, had publicly criticised him in the past.
He further dismissed Atiku’s presidential ambition, insisting, “He won’t win. There is no need talking about if he becomes president—he will not be.”
Despite the political undertones, Wike provided updates on key infrastructure projects, expressing satisfaction with the pace and quality of work.
On the Airport–Kuje road handled by Arab contractors, the Minister disclosed that one section of the bridge is nearing completion and will be open for use within a week, while full delivery is expected before the end of May.
He also commended progress on the Kuje–Gwagwalada road project, noting that the first phase—a 7-kilometre dualised stretch being executed by Gilmore would also be completed and handed over by May ending.
Wike said the transformation of the road network would significantly boost development in Kuje, predicting rapid urban expansion and decongestion of the city centre.
“By the time these roads are completed, Kuje will no longer be what you call a satellite town. People will begin to move here and build,” he said.
Addressing concerns over the impact of the 2027 election timetable on project execution, Wike maintained that governance would not be slowed by political activities.
According to him, the ongoing 2025 budget extended to June, remains the focus of implementation, while the 2026 budget awaits approval by the National Assembly upon resumption.
“The election will come, but people must work. Contractors are not part of the election,” he said, assuring that over 80 per cent of planned projects would be completed before the polls.
The Minister also denied allegations by the African Democratic Congress (ADC) that the FCT Administration attempted to revoke the licence of Rainbow Event Centre in Garki, venue of the party’s convention.
Wike said no formal application was submitted to his office, challenging the party to provide evidence of correspondence.
“I have not seen any letter. Let them show when they wrote and the acknowledgment,” he said.
He described the allegations as an attempt to gain public sympathy, insisting that no directive was issued to interfere with the party’s activities.
Wike added that an internal inquiry had been initiated to determine the origin of the claims, warning that sanctions would be applied if any wrongdoing is established.
The Minister further downplayed the strength of the ADC, questioning its ability to win elections across states and citing past electoral outcomes to support his position.
Referencing political figures such as Rotimi Amaechi, Nasir El-Rufai, and Rabiu Kwankwaso, Wike argued that the presence of prominent names does not translate to electoral success.
He insisted that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) would remain stronger than the ADC, predicting that opposition parties would ultimately resort to allegations of electoral malpractice after losing.“There’s no way ADC will win. Let them go to the ballot,” he said.
Wike reiterated that the priority of the FCT Administration remains delivering infrastructure and improving residents’ welfare, stressing that political distractions would not derail governance.