Former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar, along with former Senate President David Mark and others, have initiated a significant campaign to attract PDP members to join the anti-Tinubu coalition in their quest to secure victory in the 2027 general elections.
“The PDP, which possesses the discipline, capacity, and history to lead and save Nigeria, is now merely a shadow of its former self,” they declared in a communiqué issued after their four-hour private meeting at the Transcorp Hilton hotel in Abuja on Tuesday.
The two prominent figures from the PDP were accompanied by other leaders, including Chief Tom Ikimi, Chairman of the PDP Disciplinary Committee, who had previously recommended the expulsion of the PDP National Secretary due to alleged ‘anti-party activities in violation of Article 58 (1)(f) of the PDP Constitution’ back in March this year.
Their appeal for members to abandon a sinking ship comes just twenty-four hours after Senator Bala Mohammed, Chairman of the PDP, garnered applause from party leaders during the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting for his resolute stance against any plots aimed at merging the PDP into a political coalition.
In their communiqué, the coalition referred to themselves as ‘Concerned Leaders of the PDP’, criticising the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and asserting that the PDP is too weak and incapacitated to successfully challenge the APC in 2027.
“The meeting calls upon all well-meaning PDP members and other patriotic Nigerians to join the coalition,” they stated.
While the coalition has yet to confirm or refute speculations regarding their potential alignment with the ADC, they assert that their motivation is purely to rescue Nigeria.
“The gathering of concerned leaders from our esteemed Party, the PDP, was convened to address the troubling state into which the Party has fallen; since our defeat in the last presidential election and the departure of Dr Iyorchia Ayu as National Chairman, our beloved Party has never been the same.
“Self-serving interests from within and the reckless actions of the APC-led federal government, which has employed state institutions to undermine and dismantle democracy, know no bounds!
“The inability of PDP leadership to manage the party according to its constitution, rules, and regulations has led to a chaotic and undisciplined environment!
“The vision of our founding fathers, for which the party was established, along with its role in restoring Nigeria as a stable and unified nation, a key player on the regional, continental, and global stage, has been lost, just as our position as leaders of the black race is now overshadowed by smaller and less endowed nations.
“Regrettably, Nigeria is now a diminished nation and an embarrassment on the world stage!” they asserted.
PDP Factions Brace for Confrontation at National Secretariat
The meeting highlighted that their discussions revolved around democracy, national unity, national security, the economy, corruption, governance, and various other pressing issues, following the traditional PDP pattern of attributing blame to the APC Federal Government for all of the country’s past and present challenges.
“Consequently, the meeting resolved that the APC government, which emerged on the basis of false and malicious propaganda claiming to save Nigeria from the PDP, is now a disaster for our nation and must be voted out of power.
“All indicators of development that enhance the comfort and quality of life for our citizens have collapsed, and life has become intolerable in Nigeria; the pressure exerted by the APC Federal Government through threats, blackmail, and patronage has compelled elected officials to distance themselves from the PDP.
“This meeting hereby encourages all well-meaning PDP members and other patriotic Nigerians to join the coalition.
“All coalition partners must unite around issues of national unity, democracy, national security, the national economy, and the political will to eradicate the corruption entrenched in our institutions.
“The coalition partners will formulate strategies for winning all elections, taking into account local and national peculiarities,” they stated.
Recently, both Atiku and Mark have been noticeably absent from public PDP events, leading to increasing speculation regarding their involvement with two political parties – the ADA and ADC – which the anti-Tinubu coalition intends to leverage as its political platform for the 2027 election.
Those present at the meeting included former PDP National Chairman Prince Uche Secondus; former Governors Sule Lamido (Jigawa); Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto); Liyel Imoke (Cross River); Babangida Aliyu (Niger); Gabriel Suswam (Benue); and Sam Egwu (Ebonyi).
Other notable PDP figures in attendance included Senator Ben Obi; former PDP National Women Leader Josephine Annenih; former National Organising Secretary Senator Austin Akobundu; ex-National Publicity Secretary Kola Ologbondiyan; and former National Youth Leader Abdullahi Maibasira.
When contacted for a response regarding these developments, PDP National Publicity Secretary, Mr Debo Ologunagba, chose to remain silent.
“If we could read the secret history of our enemies, we should find in each man’s life, enough sorrow and suffering to disarm all hostility.”
