Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has reacted to the position of some Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors who have spoken against forming any alliance or merging with other political parties ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Taking to his X (formerly Twitter) handle, Atiku stated, “Indeed, the Coalition Train has left the station and would have multiple stops to bring on board Nigerians of all shades.” This public statement signals a possible shift away from the PDP as Atiku continues to lay the groundwork for a broader political movement.
While he did not directly say he is leaving the PDP, Atiku made it clear that he is open to riding on any political platform that will help bring about what he calls “good governance.” He added, “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.”
The move comes amid growing internal disagreement within the PDP. The party’s National Vice Chairman for the South-South, Dan Orbih, recently pointed fingers at what he called a long-standing culture of certain individuals insisting on contesting every presidential election, even when it goes against the PDP’s own rules. Though he didn’t mention names, it is widely believed he was referring to Atiku, who has contested the presidency multiple times, including once under the now-defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).
After a meeting in Ibadan on Monday, PDP governors issued a joint statement rejecting any merger plans, stating their position came after full consultation with party organs. Despite that, Atiku remained firm. Speaking during a separate meeting with PDP leaders from Nasarawa State and members of the National Opinion Leaders group, he restated his commitment to building a nationwide coalition.
“Yesterday, I met with a delegation of two groups, during which I briefed them about the status of the pan-Nigerian coalition that I am building in conjunction with other leaders and stakeholders across political divides and regions,” he said.
He noted that the goal of the coalition is to unite Nigerians from all corners of the country who are determined to reclaim and rebuild the nation.
He also warned his supporters not to be distracted by short-term financial rewards, suggesting such distractions could harm their long-term future. According to him, leaders from across the political spectrum, including APC, PDP, Labour Party, and others, have already begun to hold talks aimed at forming a unified political front.
Atiku described the movement as “Sabuwar tafiya”, a Hausa phrase which means “a new pathway”. He expressed hope that the coalition would soon be officially launched and encouraged all Nigerians to join.
“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,” he said.
He concluded with a call to action: “Get to planning and working together and getting as many Nigerians as possible to get converted to this new pathway.”
