The political ambitions of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar suffered a significant setback yesterday as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors Forum firmly rejected his recent call for a coalition or merger with other opposition elements ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Meeting in Ibadan, Oyo State capital, the governors stated in clear terms that the PDP has no plans to merge with or join any opposition alliance. Instead, the forum welcomed individuals or political groups willing to join the PDP to strengthen its position as the main opposition party in Nigeria.
Atiku had in March, alongside former Kaduna Governor Nasir El-Rufai and others, proposed a broad-based coalition of opposition figures to wrest power from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). However, this plan now appears dead on arrival, as PDP governors have drawn a clear line.
Reading the communiqué after their meeting, Chairman of the Forum and Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed clarified: “The PDP will not join any coalition or merger. However, the party welcomes any individuals or groups who want to join us to enthrone good leadership in 2027.”
The meeting also gained support from PDP Board of Trustees member and former Deputy National Chairman, Chief Olabode George, who reinforced the governors’ decision as a step towards internal unity.
Since returning to civilian rule in 1999, Atiku Abubakar has remained a key player in presidential elections. His record includes five failed presidential bids across both PDP and APC platforms. His latest proposal to unify the opposition seems to have fallen flat, as his own party distances itself from the plan.
The PDP governors also used the Ibadan meeting to address internal leadership challenges. They rejected the current National Secretary Senator Samuel Anyanwu, as well as Monday Ude-Okoye, nominating Deputy National Secretary Setonji Koshedo from Lagos to serve in acting capacity. They directed the Southeast zone to submit a permanent replacement.
The Forum confirmed key political dates, including the long-awaited National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting set for May 27 and the party’s National Convention, scheduled for August 28–30 in Kano.
The governors resolved to work with the National Working Committee (NWC) to constitute two vital committees for zoning and convention planning. Governor Douye Diri will chair the Zoning Committee, while Governor Ahmadu Fintiri will lead the National Convention Committee.
During the meeting, the Forum restated its solidarity with Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State, strongly opposing the state of emergency imposed by President Tinubu in March, which suspended the governor and key political officials in the state.
Governor Bala Mohammed said, “We reassert our collective determination to avert a rape of our constitutional democracy and have approached the Supreme Court for legal interpretation of such declarations.” The governors expressed deep concern over rising insecurity in Plateau, Katsina, Borno, and Edo States, calling for a bottom-up security framework that empowers subnational governments to defend their regions.
The Forum’s host, Governor Seyi Makinde, echoed these sentiments at a dinner reception held at the University of Ibadan, reaffirming that the PDP is “poised to form the next government in 2027” and has learnt vital lessons from its past defeats.
Governor Mohammed concluded, “Despite the challenges, PDP is standing tall. This meeting laid to rest all rumours of disunity and disagreement within our ranks.”
As the 2027 elections loom closer, the PDP appears focused on strengthening internal cohesion, restoring party discipline, and preparing for the next national showdown—without forming alliances with rival opposition groups.
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