2027: We’ll ride any vehicle that guarantees good governance, Atiku declares

By Clement A. Oloyede Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has reaffirmed that the coalition of opposition forces he is championing would adopt any platform that ensures good governance in its bid to unseat President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027. Atiku made the declaration on Tuesday during a meeting with a delegation of National Opinion Leaders. […]

By Clement A. Oloyede

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has reaffirmed that the coalition of opposition forces he is championing would adopt any platform that ensures good governance in its bid to unseat President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027.

Atiku made the declaration on Tuesday during a meeting with a delegation of National Opinion Leaders. In a video of the meeting shared on his X handle (formerly Twitter) on Wednesday, he assured that the “coalition train has left the station and would have multiple stops to bring on board Nigerians of all shades.”

Party tensions as PDP figures back Tinubu, eye presidency

His comment came a few hours after Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State, a member of his party, assured President Tinubu that the people of the state “will stand by him to complete eight years in office.” Eno gave the assurance in Uyo on Tuesday in his remarks at the flag-off of the Akwa Ibom–Cross River section of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway.

“Let me end by assuring our people-loving president, who will complete eight years because we are going to stand by him. And this is the truth. He cannot start this work and abandon it. Somebody else may not finish it,” Eno said.

This statement was followed by Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, also a member of the PDP, declaring himself qualified to run for the presidency—a role Atiku had played for the party in the last two presidential elections.

All these came a day after the PDP Governors’ Forum, at the end of their meeting in Ibadan, distanced themselves from any planned coalition or merger ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Atiku had in March announced the formation of a coalition of opposition parties to challenge President Tinubu’s re-election bid. At the announcement, he was flanked by Dr Yunusa Tanko, who represented Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate Peter Obi, and former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai, who recently left the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the Social Democratic Party (SDP).

Following Atiku’s recent visit to former President Muhammadu Buhari in Kaduna alongside other coalition members, expectations were high that the PDP governors’ meeting in Ibadan would clarify the party’s stance on the alliance.

However, after the meeting, which began on Sunday and ended Monday, and was attended by acting PDP National Chairman Ambassador Umar Damagum and other party leaders, the governors disassociated themselves from any coalition or merger discussions. They nonetheless expressed readiness to welcome any individual, group or party willing to join the PDP to “wrest power and enthrone good leadership in 2027.”

Atiku rallies youth, stresses focus on future

While addressing the youth-dominated delegation of National Opinion Leaders, Atiku urged them to remain focused and not be swayed by short-term inducements.

“Don’t be disrupted by people giving you pennies or kobos here and there, and nairas here and there, and then abandon your future, and the future of your children,” he said.

“Now, because of that, that’s why a number of us leaders from the parties I have mentioned—APC, PDP, Labour, and others—have come together to say we are going to have what I call in Hausa Sabuwar tafiya, which in English means a new path, a new pathway to a new Nigeria.

“And we have been meeting, and by the grace of God, very soon we will announce, and we hope and we appeal to you all to be part of this movement.”

The former vice president said the primary objective of the coalition was to ensure good governance.

“Whatever vehicle that will give us good governance in the future of our children and grandchildren, that is the vehicle we are going to ride on,” he declared.

He concluded by urging the delegation to start planning and mobilising support.

“Get to planning and working together and getting as many Nigerians as possible to get converted to this new pathway,” he said.

Ex-VP not hinting at exit from PDP, aide clarifies

Meanwhile, following the statement, speculations have intensified on whether Atiku would be defecting from the PDP, with many interpreting the “vehicle” aspect of the statement to mean a tacit indication that he had concluded plans to pitch his tent—and the coalition—with a different political party.

But Paul Ibe, Atiku’s spokesman, told Daily Trust that the former vice president was “not defecting anywhere,” though he refused to completely rule it out, saying: “This is about Nigeria and Nigerians. If Nigerians decide to take a different direction to actualise the Nigerian dream, then His Excellency is merely a vessel through which that vision might be realised.”

“If Nigerians decide that the path forward lies with a different party—not the PDP—then that’s a conversation for another time. When they get to that bridge, they’ll cross it. Right now, the focus is on building and strengthening that vision—His Excellency’s vision—and uniting people behind it.”

He explained further that: “What His Excellency was referring to is a coalition vehicle. There are other political vehicles. So, this is a vehicle Nigerians desire—a platform that will take them to their desired destination under the right leadership. And that’s a good thing to articulate. This coalition vehicle is a credible one.”

Asked if the statement was an indirect response to the position of the PDP Governors’ Forum and that of Governor Eno who endorsed Tinubu for a second term, he said it was just a coincidence.

“I’m not sure if he has spoken directly to that, but he’s clearly talking about something significant—something bigger than just himself. It’s not just about him; the objective is to oust the APC. But before you can redeem, you have to reclaim. The current government must first be voted out. That, in itself, is an excellent first step,” he said.

He reiterated that the coalition project “is a Nigerian project. It’s a national movement. It’s bigger than His Excellency or any single stakeholder or party leader. That’s the essence of what he’s speaking to.

“He’s not in competition with any individual or political party. His focus is on building and enabling this coalition, because, as it stands, the coalition is a model built out of necessity. It’s driven by momentum. You don’t want to enter it recklessly—it requires careful planning and focus. That’s the priority.

“His Excellency, along with other leaders and stakeholders, is approaching this coalition out of a sense of responsibility. They’re not discussing or contemplating leaving the PDP at this time,” he added.

Why Atiku is careful about defection – Prof Fage

Commenting on the issue, renowned political analyst, Professor Kamilu Sani Fage, said the former vice president is being cautious about defecting as a tactical manoeuvre.

“I think he’s trying to be cautious not to jump ship too early. From what I can see, he’s being tactically careful, likely drawing lessons from the outcome of the 2023 election.

“If you look at the position taken by Atiku, for one thing, he has consistently sought to become the president of Nigeria. This would be yet another attempt, and he has made these attempts under different political parties but mainly with the PDP.

“You know, 2023 and 2019 were not his chances by the PDP zoning formula, but he somehow used his clout to get the ticket. So, I think this time, he’s being more calculated so as not to stir unnecessary controversy or raise the issue too early,” he said.

Fage, a senior lecturer in the Department of Political Science at Bayero University, Kano, added: “By the time 2027 draws closer, I believe it’s almost certain that he will make his decision known.”