Abuja, Nigeria – Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has officially refuted widespread speculation that he intends to leave the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for a new opposition coalition being formed ahead of the 2027 general election.
The clarification was provided by his media aide, Paul Ibe, during an appearance on Channels Television’s “Politics Today” on Thursday. While affirming his principal’s loyalty to the PDP, Mr. Ibe also confirmed that high-level strategic discussions are ongoing between Atiku, former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, and the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi.
“My principal has said that he wasn’t leaving the PDP, and you have to respect what he has said,” Ibe stated emphatically.
He elaborated on the nature of the cross-party dialogues, confirming, “There is an ongoing discussion between Atiku Abubakar and some opposition leaders like Peter Obi and Nasir El-Rufai. Yes, it’s out there in the open… At the end of that discussion, they will come out with a position and a direction that we’re going to follow based on the yearnings and aspirations of Nigerians.”
This development adds a complex layer to the opposition’s landscape, especially following a declaration last month by the PDP Governors Forum that the party would not form any alliance or coalition. That stance had drawn a sharp retort from Babachir Lawal, a key stakeholder in the emerging coalition, who noted that the PDP was not being considered for partnership.
In a related development, the opposition coalition has also moved to correct misinformation about its own platform. In a statement issued Thursday by Mallam Salihu Lukman, a former National Vice Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and a prominent figure in the new movement, the coalition dismissed reports that it had adopted the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as its political party. Lukman described the claim as “false and misleading.”
The ongoing talks between these influential figures signal a dynamic and fluid political environment as preparations for the 2027 electoral cycle begin to take shape.
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