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.
Real Madrid president Real Madrid has confirmed the return of José Mourinho after incumbent president Florentino Pérez secured a landslide victory in the club’s presidential election, extending his rule until 2030.
Pérez won re-election with a commanding 65% of the vote, defeating challenger Enrique Riquelme, who secured 35%, according to the club’s Electoral Board.
The result reinforces Pérez’s long-standing leadership, which has now spanned more than two decades across two separate terms.
SEE ALSO: Bruno Lage Sacked As Benfica Move To Secure Mourinho
Speaking after his victory, Pérez described the outcome as a strong endorsement of his vision for the club’s future, insisting that Real Madrid will continue to thrive both on and off the pitch.
The president also used the moment to confirm a major sporting development—the return of José Mourinho, a move that immediately sparked excitement among supporters.
Mourinho, who previously enjoyed a successful spell at the club, is widely regarded as one of the most influential managers in modern football.
Pérez said the club remains committed to competing at the highest level in Europe, with ambitions of securing a record-extending 16th UEFA Champions League title while continuing the redevelopment of the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium.
He also reaffirmed his stance on the club’s ownership model, stressing that Real Madrid will remain a member-owned institution despite growing global trends toward private ownership in football.
The announcement has been widely interpreted as the beginning of a new competitive era for the Spanish giants, with expectations rising among fans following both the election result and Mourinho’s return.
Pérez ended his address with a call for unity among supporters, including those who did not vote for him, promising to continue addressing concerns while focusing on sporting success.
The political rivalry between Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and former Deputy Senate President, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, has escalated once again as both men exchanged heated words ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The confrontation follows renewed political realignments in Delta State, including Governor Oborevwori’s defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), a party he previously defeated in the 2023 governorship election.
SEE ALSO: 2027: Tinubu Will Defeat Atiku If Election Is Rigged — Babachir
Oborevwori has since pledged full support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027, describing the President as his “number one project” and a key political ally whose victory would benefit Delta State.
However, Omo-Agege, who recently left the APC for the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), accused the governor of political fear and abandoning party structures in the state.
“He is not a threat” — Oborevwori
Responding to criticisms, Governor Oborevwori dismissed Omo-Agege’s political relevance, insisting he poses no electoral threat.
“He is not a threat because I’ve won him before,” the governor said, adding that many of the senator’s supporters had already left him before his exit from the APC.
Oborevwori also accused Omo-Agege of political betrayal, claiming he had previously turned against key figures who supported his rise.
“He betrayed James Ibori, he betrayed Great Ogboru, he betrayed O’tega Emerhor. So if he says he wants to betray me, he’s not a threat,” he stated.
“He panicked and ran into APC” — Omo-Agege
Omo-Agege fired back, alleging that the governor defected to the APC out of fear of losing political ground.
“The governor panicked, chickened out, and ran into the APC,” he said.
He insisted that his performance in the 2023 elections proved his continued strength in Delta politics, particularly in Delta Central.
“If Sheriff believed I was not a threat, why didn’t he stay back in the PDP and take me on in 2027?” he asked.
Governance and ₦3.15 trillion controversy
Both politicians also clashed over governance performance and state finances.
Oborevwori defended his administration, saying infrastructure development had improved across all local government areas, with contractors being paid promptly.
“First time in history, no contractor is being owed,” he said, citing ongoing projects such as Effurun Roundabout, DSC Roundabout, and PTI Junction.
Omo-Agege, however, described the administration as underperforming despite receiving over ₦3.15 trillion in three years.
He alleged that about ₦750 billion remained idle in the Central Bank of Nigeria while critical sectors such as healthcare, education, and infrastructure suffer neglect.
Tinubu vs Obi political divide deepens
The rivalry has also taken a national dimension, with both politicians backing different presidential candidates for 2027.
Oborevwori declared support for President Tinubu, calling him Delta’s “in-law” and urging residents to back his re-election.
“Tinubu is my number one project,” he said.
Omo-Agege, on the other hand, declared his support for former presidential candidate Peter Obi, stating that he would contest under the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).
“My presidential candidate in 2027 is Peter Obi,” he said.
Political tensions rise ahead of 2027
Observers say the renewed exchange signals an early start to a high-stakes political battle in Delta State, with shifting alliances and competing loyalties likely to shape the 2027 elections.
With both camps firmly entrenched in opposing political directions, Delta State is expected to remain a major flashpoint in Nigeria’s unfolding political landscape.
Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal, has claimed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu would emerge victorious against former Vice President Atiku Abubakar if the 2027 presidential election is determined by electoral manipulation.
Lawal made the statement during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Monday, where he weighed in on the growing political permutations ahead of the next general election.
According to him, no politician in Nigeria currently possesses the capacity to outmaneuver Tinubu if election rigging becomes the deciding factor in the race for Aso Rock.
ALSO READ: VDM in Trouble as Presidency Seeks Legal Action Over Alleged Fake Tinubu Audio
“If the parameter for winning elections in Nigeria is rigging, nobody can face Bola Tinubu in this country. If Atiku’s strength is in manipulating results, I wish him luck; he will meet the master rigger in front,” Lawal said.
The former SGF further argued that President Tinubu would record a landslide victory if the election outcome were determined by such means, describing the president as a formidable political strategist.
Lawal also took a swipe at Atiku Abubakar, distancing himself from the former vice president’s political ambition and insisting that he would not support his bid for the presidency.
He stated that after studying Atiku’s political history and leadership record, he believes an Atiku administration would perform worse than the current government led by Tinubu.
“I have studied his antecedents and realised that his presidency will be worse than Bola Tinubu’s,” he said.
The former SGF also criticised Atiku for what he described as insufficient engagement with Nigeria’s worsening security situation, including recurring cases of kidnapping and violent attacks in different parts of the country.
Despite his criticism of both Tinubu and Atiku, Lawal maintained that he is yet to endorse any presidential aspirant ahead of the 2027 election.
“I am supporting nobody. I don’t want to be part of anything for now,” he stated.
His comments come shortly after his resignation from the African Democratic Congress (ADC), where he accused the party of manipulating its recent presidential primary in favour of Atiku.
Lawal alleged that results from the exercise were altered to produce a predetermined outcome, claiming that candidates who won in some areas were replaced by individuals loyal to the former vice president.
He said the alleged irregularities influenced his decision to leave the party, which he described as a “rigging machine” ahead of the 2027 elections.
However, the ADC leadership has denied the allegations, insisting that the primary election was conducted transparently and reflected the wishes of party members.
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