The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is facing a major crisis with the exit of its key leaders, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and several ex-governors.
Atiku Abubakar, who has been a member and leader of the PDP since its inception, has led some key leaders of the party out of the party, encouraging well-meaning members and patriotic Nigerians to join a coalition.
Former Governors Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto), Babangida Aliyu (Niger), Liyel Imoke (Cross River), and Sam Egwu (Ebonyi) are among those who have left the PDP alongside Atiku Abubakar and ex-Senate President David Mark.
Truth Live News reports that the decision to dump the main opposition party comes barely 24 hours after the PDP’s National Executive Council (NEC) meeting, where Acting National Chairman Umar Damagum declared that the party’s issues had been resolved.
Dr. Sani Abubakar, a political analyst, said Atiku’s decision to leave the PDP is long overdue, over the party’s failure to live up to expectations as a credible opposition party.
“If the PDP had been able to live up to expectations the same way the APC opposed them when they were in government, the story of the Nigerian political landscape would have been entirely different,” he said.
Abubakar also stated that the PDP has been hijacked by individuals like the FCT Minister, who seem to be working in the interest of the APC.
Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and ally to Atiku Abubakar, has a different view, stating that Atiku hasn’t left the PDP but is rather collapsing the party into a coalition with the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
“Atiku and other PDP heavyweights apart from Senator David Mark have not resigned from PDP but rather want to, as PDP members, collapse into ADC,” Eze said.
Eze commended Atiku’s decision, saying it’s a strategic step to rescue the nation from President Tinubu’s administration.
Truth Live News recalls that Atiku Abubakar has contested for the presidency on multiple occasions, including the last two general elections, but has been unsuccessful.
He was the PDP candidate for the 2023 presidential election and lost to President Bola Tinubu.
Atiku has been known as a serial presidential aspirant in Nigeria, having contested six primary elections before the 2023 presidential election.