Former Vice President and 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has firmly dispelled rumors of defection to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), reiterating his unwavering loyalty to the PDP while pushing for a broad national coalition to challenge the APC’s dominance ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Atiku, speaking during a visit from PDP women members of the Board of Trustees (BoT), emphasized that his coalition initiative is not a move against the PDP but rather a strategic effort to reclaim Nigeria from what he described as “economic collapse, institutional failure, and democratic erosion.” The meeting, led by former Women Affairs Minister Hajia Inna Ciroma, was part of the BoT women’s intervention to rescue the embattled opposition party from internal implosion.
“We had fruitful discussions with the former Vice President. He assured us he’s not leaving the party. He shared details about the coalition being built and encouraged our participation. He emphasized that the PDP name and identity would remain intact,” Ciroma told reporters. She noted concerns over party leadership, structure, and funding — issues that have triggered an ongoing wave of defections and disunity within the party.
The PDP women’s outreach to Atiku comes amid escalating fractures in the party, worsened by the dominance of three rival blocs: the Minister of Federal Capital Territory’s group (led by Nyesom Wike), the governors’ group, and Atiku’s own reportedly weakened camp. These deep-seated divisions, according to critics like APC chieftain Buba Galadima, have rendered the PDP “irredeemable”.
Meanwhile, the Atiku Media Office has lashed out at Daniel Bwala, a former Atiku campaign spokesperson now serving as President Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Policy Communication, for his recent criticism of Atiku. Describing Bwala as a “political turncoat,” the media office dismissed his remarks as a panicked reaction to the growing momentum of Atiku’s coalition efforts.
“The Tinubu camp’s obsession with Atiku is no coincidence. If he’s truly a spent force, why the smear campaign? The coalition he’s building clearly terrifies them,” the statement read. The media office further insisted that Atiku’s legacy as a unifier and reform advocate is well established and beyond the reach of “political jesters masquerading as patriots.”
Amid these developments, political intrigues around former Kaduna Governor Nasir El-Rufai have surfaced. Galadima alleged that El-Rufai’s move to the Social Democratic Party (SDP) is part of a proxy arrangement for Atiku, should the PDP disintegrate beyond repair. However, Galadima warned that El-Rufai is “unfit to lead any opposition” due to his history of betrayals and abrasive political style.
“El-Rufai is merely a placeholder in the SDP. His record of ditching allies — from Atiku to Obasanjo to Buhari and now Tinubu — makes him untrustworthy. Only an insane person will follow him,” Galadima said in a scathing interview, asserting that the former governor’s efforts will collapse under the weight of his past actions and lack of credibility.
Galadima also advised Atiku to step back from the 2027 race due to age and legacy considerations, suggesting he instead support a new leader or even his son, provided he is qualified. He criticized the current coalition moves as premature and warned against destabilizing Tinubu’s administration too early in its term.
Despite the turbulence, Atiku’s camp remains resolute. His coalition drive, involving actors across party lines and regions, is positioned as a unifying effort to salvage Nigeria’s democracy. While internal PDP fractures and external criticisms mount, Atiku has made it clear: he is staying put in the PDP, and he is not backing down. The race to 2027 has begun — and it’s already redefining Nigeria’s political landscape.
