The PDP clarifies its position on opposing Tinubu’s re-election in 2027.
Nigeria News Nalin The report said the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has proposed to clarify its position on a political coalition that aims to prevent President Bola Tinubu from being re-election in 2027.
Criticism has been raised after the PDP Governors Forum meeting in Ibadan, where the resolutions taken seemed to challenge the momentum behind the proposed opposition coalition and were supported by loyalists from former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.
In a communique released after the meeting, the governor announced: “The forum decided not to join any alliance or merger.” This statement led to new debates within the party, especially among factions that advocate strategic alliances before the next general election.
Timothy Osadolor, deputy national youth leader and member of the PDP National Working Committee, responded to the governor’s position. In recognizing the governor’s position, he insisted that the party remains open to the coalition talks, but only in terms of retaining the PDP’s identity and leadership role.
“First of all, the PDP is not against the idea of a political alliance; what we are saying and what we insist on is that we are a bigger partner in anything like this, so our brand name has to be intact,” Osadolor said.
He stressed the importance of retaining the name and status of the PDP in any alliance: “We won’t say that because we are in the process of alliances, the PDP will now allow itself to become a PDSP or PDRC; we claim that we will play the superior position in any position, which is our position – this is our position – this is our position.”
However, the narrative from the camp Atiku Abubakar is different. Mr. Paul Ibe, spokesman for the Atiku Media Office, pointed out that the promotion of the alliance is driven by the Nigerian demand for change, not just internal party politics.
“We respect the position of the governor of PDP; the governor is the main stakeholder of any party, not only the PDP, but the biggest stakeholder in any party is Nigerians,” Ibe said. “Nigerians know where they want to go, they want to end this government, they want to rebuild the country, and do that, they have to recycle it first.”
He refuted any notion that the alliance is only related to Atiku: “It’s not just about Atiku Abubakar; he and other political leaders involved in this involvement are just tools to achieve the end; this (the alliance) is related to Nigeria.”
He added: “It’s still early, but there will be consistency and readjustment; twenty-four hours are politically long, and when the train gets on, some governors may encounter it at one multiple site.”
On Atiku’s intentions for 2027, Ibe made it clear that there was no final decision: “Alhaji Atiku recently said that when it comes to 2027 (election), he did not make a decision; when the man himself did not get this, it would be the possibility of making such a suggestion to anyone.”
“Atiku Abubakar’s focus is now to ensure the birth of the alliance, join hands with good-willed men and women – to cultivate the alliance with the Patriots to ensure that the alliance represents a strong platform that is separated from the APC government.”
