Politics
Backlash Trails Atiku’s Third Exit From PDP
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s latest defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has deepened internal divisions within the opposition party, sparking a wave of criticisms, political calculations, and questions over the PDP’s stability ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Atiku formally resigned from the PDP on Sunday, July 14, in a letter addressed to the party chairman in his Jada Ward 1, Adamawa State, citing “irreconcilable differences” and deviation from the founding principles of the party.
His resignation marks the third time he has exited the PDP since its inception.
READ ALSO: Atiku Abubakar Dumps PDP, Floats New Coalition Party
“It is with a heavy heart that I resign, recognising the irreconcilable differences that have emerged,” Atiku stated. “The current trajectory of the party diverges from the foundational principles we stood for.”
Backlash from Party Leaders, Ministers
Reactions to the defection have been swift and varied. Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde dismissed Atiku’s exit as inconsequential, asserting that the former vice president had become a weight on the party.
“The PDP is an institution,” Makinde said. “You have the freedom to enter and exit. But I think anyone who would hold the PDP down—it’s better for such an individual to leave.”
Makinde, who spoke during the 10th Coronation Colloquium of the Deji of Akure, Oba Aladetoyinbo Ogunlade Aladelusi, insisted that the PDP remains strong and unshaken.
However, Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo (SAN), criticized the timing of the resignation, accusing Atiku of political insensitivity.
Keyamo noted that Atiku’s move came during a seven-day national mourning declared by the Federal Government following the death of former President Muhammadu Buhari.
“It is within your constitutional right to change parties,” Keyamo wrote via X (formerly Twitter).
“However, releasing your resignation letter during the mourning of our immediate past president is a clear attempt to draw attention to yourself.”
Keyamo also condemned Atiku’s use of the Nigerian Coat of Arms on his private political communications, calling it illegal and morally wrong.
“Section 6 of the Flag and Coat of Arms Act, Cap. F30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, makes this an offence,” he added. “It borders on impersonation.”
Tension in Adamawa and PDP’s Power Base
In Atiku’s home state of Adamawa, PDP chairman Ahmed Shehu insisted that the former VP’s exit would not significantly affect the party’s structure.
“The former Vice President is a great asset, but our party remains formidable,” Shehu said. “The PDP in Jada Ward 1 remains intact. If any mass exit occurred, we would have been officially notified.”
However, Umar Bello Jada, a political associate of Atiku, argued otherwise, insisting the PDP is “already dead” in Adamawa South and predicted more defections would follow.
“The PDP is a dead party—killed by its own leaders,” Jada declared.
Rising ADC and New Political Calculations
Atiku has now pitched his tent with the African Democratic Congress (ADC), where he is expected to seek the presidential ticket for the 2027 election.
The ADC, which had remained relatively quiet on the national scene, is now experiencing a resurgence, bolstered by the arrival of Atiku and his allies.
Atiku’s defection was followed by a wave of high-profile resignations from the PDP. Joining the ADC alongside him are Mark, Senator Tunde Ogbeha, Chief Tom Ikimi, Senator Dino Melaye, and Bolaji Abdullahi, who now serves as ADC’s interim publicity secretary.
Professor Tunde Olusunle, a PDP chieftain and former presidential aide, described the ADC’s rise as a political “tsunami” that could eclipse the Labour Party’s 2023 momentum.
“The ADC is blossoming into a nationwide tsunami,” Olusunle said. “What it brings to Nigeria’s political landscape is massive and may render the PDP ineffective as an opposition force.”
APC Reacts: “A Desperate Move”
The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has also weighed in. In a strongly worded statement, Lagos APC spokesperson Seye Oladejo described Atiku’s defection as a “predictable act of desperation.”
“Atiku’s continuous political nomadism is emblematic of a man driven not by principles or ideology, but by unrelenting personal ambition,” Oladejo stated.
He further asserted that the ADC posed no threat to the APC, which remains focused on governance, economic reforms, and electoral dominance ahead of 2027.
“Whether Atiku is in PDP, ADC, or any other alphabet party, Nigerians are wiser,” Oladejo said. “APC remains the only party with a proven track record of transformative governance.”
Atiku’s exit has once again thrown the PDP into a state of soul-searching. Although its leaders continue to present a united front, analysts believe the party faces existential challenges, especially in light of mounting defections, factionalism, and failure to present a cohesive opposition strategy.
With Atiku’s departure and the rise of the ADC, the battle for 2027 is already heating up long before official campaigns begin.
Whether the PDP can survive this fresh political storm remains uncertain.
Fresh crisis has erupted within the All Progressives Congress following widespread rejection of the party’s senatorial and National Assembly primary election results by aggrieved aspirants and party stakeholders across nine states.
The controversy, which trailed the APC primaries conducted ahead of the 2027 general elections, has sparked protests, petitions and allegations of manipulation, imposition of candidates and violation of internal democratic processes in Ekiti, Ondo, Zamfara, Nasarawa, Kwara, Plateau, Kaduna, Delta and Benue states.
In Ekiti State, former senator Ayo Arise and fellow aspirant Dare Owolabi rejected the outcome of the APC senatorial primary in Ekiti North Senatorial District, where the incumbent senator, Cyril Fasuyi, was declared winner.
SEE MORE: Shock in Ogun APC as Aspirant Withdraws, Declares Support for Party Choice
While the APC election committee announced that Fasuyi polled 14,179 votes to defeat his rivals, Arise insisted he won the election based on ward results in his possession.
He alleged that the process was disrupted in several wards after it became obvious he was leading.
Arise described the exercise as being riddled with irregularities, intimidation and fraud, vowing to challenge the outcome before the national leadership of the party.
Owolabi also faulted the exercise, alleging that supporters were harassed and chased away from voting venues across several wards.
However, Fasuyi dismissed the allegations and maintained that the primary election was conducted in line with APC guidelines.
In Ondo State, former deputy governor and senatorial aspirant, Agboola Ajayi, also rejected the outcome of the Ondo South senatorial primary, describing the announced results as fake.
Ajayi’s campaign organisation claimed the figures declared by the senatorial collation officer did not reflect the actual results collated by its agents across the wards.
In Zamfara State, several aspirants criticised the adoption of consensus arrangements by party leaders instead of direct primaries.
Former governor and Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, had announced that consensus candidates had emerged across the state following agreements among aspirants.
But aspirants including Tijjani Kaura, Dr Sani Shinkafi and Hajiya Lubuna Gusau denied participating in any consensus arrangement and accused party leaders of attempting to impose candidates.
Shinkafi further accused party leaders of misleading President Bola Tinubu by claiming he directed aspirants to step down for incumbent lawmakers.
In Nasarawa State, APC members under the platform of Concerned APC Members staged a peaceful protest over alleged irregularities during the National Assembly primaries.
The group accused the election committee of poor coordination, late arrival of election materials and favouritism towards certain candidates.
Similarly, APC stakeholders in Kwara State petitioned the national leadership of the party over the conduct of the House of Representatives primary election in the Ekiti/Oke-Ero/Isin/Irepodun Federal Constituency.
The stakeholders alleged that no voting exercise took place in some areas and accused local party leaders of releasing unauthorised election results.
In Plateau State, Plateau North Senatorial District aspirant and serving senator, Pam Dachungyang, rejected the APC senate primary, describing the process as a sham that failed to meet democratic standards.
According to him, party officials failed to appear in several areas where voting was expected to take place.
The crisis also spread to Kaduna State, where aggrieved aspirants staged protests across Kaduna metropolis over the outcome of the senatorial primaries.
The protesters alleged that the APC abandoned the approved direct primary system and instead adopted an unauthorised delegate arrangement.
The protest followed the emergence of Sunday Katung, former governor Ramalan Yero and Shehu Sani as winners of the APC senatorial tickets.
In Delta State, the Chairman of the APC National Assembly Primaries Appeal Committee, Chukwuemeka Ujam, confirmed that the panel had received five petitions from aggrieved party members challenging the conduct of the primaries.
Meanwhile, in Benue State, two aspirants challenged the victory of Blessing Onuh in the APC House of Representatives primary for Otukpo/Ohinmini Federal Constituency.
The aspirants alleged that election materials were hijacked and claimed the votes allocated to Onuh exceeded the number of registered party members in the constituency.
The growing wave of protests and petitions has further exposed deepening cracks within the APC as the ruling party prepares for the 2027 general elections.
A governorship aspirant in Plateau State, Commander Yilchin Jan Bida (rtd), has declared that he is fully committed to contesting the 2027 governorship race, insisting that he is “not in the race to fill numbers” but to win.
Yilchin Jan Bida made the statement while addressing journalists in Plateau State on Tuesday, where he reaffirmed his confidence in defeating incumbent Governor Caleb Mutfwang in a free and fair party primary.
SEE ALSO: Violence Rocks APC Primaries in Plateau, Officials Flee for Safety
Caleb Mutfwang is expected to seek re-election in the 2027 polls, setting the stage for what could become a heated internal party contest.
Bida said his ambition is backed by a structured development plan known as the “LIGHT Agenda,” which he described as a comprehensive blueprint aimed at transforming governance across security, infrastructure, education, and economic development.
Security and Infrastructure Focus
The aspirant said insecurity remains a major concern in Plateau State, arguing that poor rural road networks and limited telecommunications coverage have worsened response time during emergencies.
He pledged that, if elected, his administration would ensure full mobile network coverage across the state and expand rural road construction to improve access to remote communities.
Bold Development Promise
Bida also outlined an ambitious infrastructure plan, stating that his government would invest heavily in roads, bridges, and community development projects across all 17 local government areas of the state.
He estimated a projected spending of about N1 trillion over four years, with each local government expected to benefit from at least 40 kilometres of road construction.
Education and Human Capital
On education, Bida expressed concern over what he described as inadequate investment in human capital development, warning that it could affect the future competitiveness of Plateau youths.
He said his administration would prioritise education, healthcare, and youth empowerment while also supporting small businesses and local enterprise growth.
Political Outlook
Bida maintained that his participation in the race is driven by vision and preparation, not symbolism, adding that he is confident of victory in the party primary if conducted fairly.
The 2027 Plateau governorship race is gradually shaping into a competitive political contest as aspirants intensify consultations and policy declarations.
There was a surprise development in the political landscape of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ogun State on Tuesday as a House of Assembly aspirant, Ademola Okeowo, withdrew from the race and declared support for the party’s consensus candidate.
Okeowo, who was vying to represent Ijebu North State Constituency I, announced his decision at the APC secretariat in Ijebu North, Ijebu Igbo, before party leaders, stakeholders, and supporters.
SEE MORE: Benue APC Primary Turns Messy as Onoja’s Son Battles David Mark’s Daughter Over Victory
He said the move followed extensive consultations with party elders and leaders, stressing that it was taken in the interest of unity and discipline within the party.
According to him, although he had enjoyed strong grassroots support and encouragement from different communities, he decided to step down in line with the party’s consensus arrangement.
“I have decided to step down unconditionally in support of the party’s consensus candidate,” Okeowo stated, adding that his political structure would now be merged with that of the chosen candidate.
He called on his supporters, youth groups, women associations, and coordinators to fully mobilise for the success of the APC in the forthcoming elections.
The APC Vice Chairman in Ijebu North, Alhaji Adesegun Adenola, commended the decision, describing it as a move that strengthens internal unity within the party.
Adenola disclosed that out of about 14 initial aspirants, the number was reduced to four after internal screening, with two aspirants, including Okeowo, stepping down in support of the consensus candidate, Olatunbosun Ipaye.
He added that remaining contenders were also expected to align with the party’s decision ahead of the primaries.
The development highlights ongoing efforts by the APC to consolidate internal harmony and avoid division ahead of the next electoral cycle in Ogun State.
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