Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has criticised former Vice President Atiku Abubakar over his recent call for Nigerians to accept money offered by members of the ruling party during the 2027 election.

Wike spoke on Monday at a town hall meeting with the Rumueme and Apara kingdoms in Obio-Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State.

Atiku had advised Nigerians to collect money offered by politicians during the election, describing such funds as stolen money.

Reacting, Wike questioned Atiku’s standing to speak against corruption, recalling criticisms previously levelled against the former vice president by his former boss, ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo.

“When I saw Atiku on television yesterday, asking Nigerians to take any money given to them by people from the party in power, saying that it will be stolen money, I said, ‘Haa, Atiku is now an apostle of anti-corruption?’” Wike said.

The FCT minister also attacked the ADC presidential ticket featuring Atiku and former Rivers State governor Rotimi Amaechi, describing the pairing as a “joint ticket of corruption.”

“ADC’s Atiku-Amaechi ticket is a joint ticket of corruption,” he said.

Wike further referred to Obasanjo’s past criticism of Atiku, who served as vice president under him between 1999 and 2007.

“The same Atiku whose boss described him as corrupt and said one of his major regrets was making him vice president is talking,” Wike said.

The minister also questioned the ability of the Atiku-Amaechi ticket to secure the constitutionally required 25 per cent of votes in Rivers State in the 2027 presidential election.