Lere Olayinka, the Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications to the FCT minister, Nyesom Wike, has stated that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar ruined the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) with his presidential ambition.

Speaking on Channels Television on Thursday, Olayinka said Atiku should not be allowed to return to the party after his exit.

Atiku, on Wednesday, formally announced his resignation from the PDP, citing irreconcilable internal crises. The letter, dated July 14, described the decision as “heartbreaking”.

Reacting, Olayinka accused the former vice-president of destroying the party before abandoning it.

His words: “Today, PDP has been so destroyed and damaged by this one man, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.

“He is now gone. The first thing I want to say is that when highly-spirited members of PDP come together to rebuild the party, Atiku Abubakar should not come back after he has failed on his new political journey — because he is going to fail.”

Olayinka said the party should begin internal reforms, but not necessarily intending to contest for power in 2027.

According to him, the PDP must prioritise rebuilding its identity and structure over electoral calculations.