Atiku Abubakar, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has firmly rejected claims that he plans to leave the party and join the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). Instead, the former Vice President reiterated his commitment to creating a broad coalition of political forces to challenge the APC-led government in the 2027 elections.
Atiku made the statement during a meeting with the women members of the PDP Board of Trustees (BoT), who visited him to discuss the party’s future. The PDP women, led by former Minister of Women Affairs and ex-National Women Leader, Hajia Inna Ciroma, were concerned about the party’s leadership crisis and its internal struggles following the 2023 general elections.
Addressing the women, Atiku highlighted that the idea of a coalition is not just a political maneuver but a necessity to ensure the future of the country. According to him, forming a coalition is essential to challenge the ruling APC government, which he described as failing to meet the needs of Nigerians.
He pointed to the historical example of the National Party of Nigeria (NPN) forming an alliance with the Nigeria Peoples Party (NPP) in the Second Republic, known as the NPN-NPP Accord, as evidence that such alliances could work. Atiku assured the women that once the coalition is formed, the identity of the PDP would remain intact, and the party would not be subsumed by any other force.
He further explained that the coalition he is building involves not just PDP members, but also other political leaders and stakeholders from various regions of the country. This, he said, was part of a larger movement driven by Nigerians from all walks of life who are determined to reclaim and rebuild the nation.
The PDP women, deeply concerned about the party’s leadership vacuum, had visited Atiku to seek solutions to the ongoing crisis within the party. In a statement to Vanguard, Hajia Inna Ciroma explained that the BoT members were worried about the lack of leadership in the party, which they believed could lead to its collapse.
“We, as mothers and the conscience of the party, cannot fold our hands and watch things go bad,” Ciroma said. “We came to Atiku to express our concerns and brainstorm on how to save the party from total collapse. We need leadership and direction in PDP.”
Ciroma revealed that Atiku assured them that he was not leaving the party and had shared his plans for the coalition. They also discussed ways to ensure the party is properly funded and controlled by the people, not by any single individual.
The PDP has been grappling with defections, internal divisions, and leadership disputes that have worsened in the aftermath of the 2023 elections. The party has witnessed a series of defections from key members, further weakening its position as the main opposition party. In response to these challenges, the BoT women have been meeting with PDP leaders, including Acting National Chairman Amb. Umar Damagum, to find a way forward.
The women’s mission is to address the party’s crisis by reaching out to PDP governors, stakeholders, and members to discuss the root causes of the discontent and find solutions that will unify the party and strengthen it ahead of the next general election.
Atiku’s message is clear: the PDP must stand united and prepare to challenge the APC in 2027, not through defection or division, but through a strong, inclusive coalition that represents the aspirations of the Nigerian people.
