Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has intensified speculation about his potential departure from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), hinting that he may be riding on a new political platform to pursue his 2027 presidential ambition, 9am news reports
Taking to his official X handle, Atiku declared, “Indeed, the Coalition Train has left the station and would have multiple stops to bring on board Nigerians of all shades.” The statement comes just days after PDP governors openly rejected any plans to merge or form a coalition with other political entities ahead of the next general elections.
Atiku’s words suggest a readiness to abandon the PDP in favour of a broader, pan-Nigerian movement. “Whatever vehicle that will give us good governance in the future of our children and grandchildren; that is the vehicle we are going to ride on,” he said, fueling speculations of a cross-party alliance.
At a recent meeting with a delegation from Nasarawa PDP and a group of national opinion leaders, Atiku explained the scope of the “Sabuwar tafiya”, a Hausa phrase meaning “new path”—a coalition initiative driven by leaders from APC, PDP, Labour Party, and other parties determined to forge a new direction for the country.
The former vice president’s comments arrive amid rising tensions within the PDP. In a communiqué issued after a strategic meeting in Ibadan, PDP governors unanimously rejected any coalition or merger talks, claiming to have consulted all party organs before making the decision.
Reacting, Atiku insisted that “the merger train has already left the station,” indicating that he and other stakeholders are already moving forward with plans beyond the PDP’s scope.
PDP’s National Vice Chairman (South-South), Dan Orbih, has criticized internal party figures for undermining the party’s unity, indirectly blaming Atiku’s repeated presidential bids as one of the factors fueling the prolonged crisis.
“Wike is not the party’s problem,” Orbih said. “The real issue is those who want to run every time without following the party’s constitutional guidelines.”
He urged the party’s acting chairman, Ambassador Iliya Damagun, to initiate congresses that will bring in new leaders capable of rebuilding the PDP.
Mixed Reactions Among Party Leaders
While some, like Segun Adewale, a former PDP governorship candidate in Lagos, support Atiku’s potential return to the race, others including Chief Olabode George, warn that another Atiku candidacy could “kill the PDP.”
Adewale countered that anti-party behaviour and selfish ambitions of key party figures, not Atiku’s presidential aspirations, pose the real threat to the PDP’s success in 2027.
Atiku assured his visitors that the full coalition will be unveiled soon, urging all Nigerians to join the movement. He stated:
“We have been meeting, and by the grace of God, very soon we will announce. We hope and we appeal to you all to be part of this movement.”
With the political scene heating up ahead of 2027, Atiku’s moves are set to reshape Nigeria’s opposition landscape. Whether the PDP will weather this storm or fracture further remains to be seen.
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