Olayinka Blames Atiku for PDP’s Anti-Party Troubles

Lere Olayinka, the Special Adviser on Public Communication to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, has hit back at accusations made by Atiku Abubakar’s media aide, Paul Ibe, regarding alleged anti-party activities by Wike.

Olayinka, in a statement on Thursday, recalled how former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar’s actions in previous elections—2003, 2007, and 2014—had planted the seeds of division within the party. According to Olayinka, these actions continue to haunt the party to this day.

The controversy began when Ibe accused Wike of engaging in anti-party activities, following the recent South South Zonal Congress of the PDP. A letter from the party to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared the congress cancelled due to “operational constraints,” but despite the cancellation, Wike and his faction went ahead with the event. Former Cross River Governor Donald Duke was also in attendance, and Dan Orbih was re-elected as the PDP South South Zonal Vice Chairman.

Ibe, in his remarks, suggested that Wike’s actions were part of a deliberate attempt to create crises within the PDP, allegedly serving the interests of those supporting President Bola Tinubu. He claimed Wike’s camp was using the situation to destabilize the opposition party.

Olayinka strongly condemned these accusations, calling on Atiku’s supporters to stop their focus on Wike and the narrative of Atiku’s potential return to presidential politics. He mocked Atiku’s repeated failed bids for the presidency, urging him to step aside and “rest.”

“Better tell your serial presidential election contester and loser to go and rest,” Olayinka stated. He accused Atiku of sowing the seeds of anti-party division in 2003, 2007, and 2014, actions that Olayinka believes are still causing problems within the PDP.

He also pointed out the inconsistencies in the party’s actions, highlighting the fact that the letter from the PDP to INEC was not only delayed but also received three days after the congress was held. Olayinka ridiculed those celebrating the letter’s delayed arrival, implying that they were using it to create a false narrative of wrongdoing.

“Rather than their obsession with Wike, they should fear God and stop their ‘Atiku is Coming’ deceit,” Olayinka concluded. He called for Atiku to acknowledge his past failures and allow the PDP to move forward without being held back by his repeated presidential ambitions.