‘PDP is a shadow of itself’ — Atiku, David Mark, Lamido ask members to join opposition coalition

A group of concerned leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has asked members of the main opposition party to join the coalition being formed ahead of the 2027 elections.

The group made the call in a communique issued on Tuesday night after a meeting in Abuja, the nation’s capital.

Members of the group include former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar; David Mark, ex-senate president; Sule Lamido, ex-governor of Jigawa; Uche Secondus, former PDP national chairman; Babangida Aliyu, former governor of Niger; Sam Egwu, former governor of Ebonyi; Aminu Tambuwal, former governor of Sokoto; and Liyel Imoke, former governor of Cross River, among others.

The group said the PDP, which has been grappling with an internal crisis since the 2023 elections, has “sunk into a disturbing condition”, aided by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

“The inability of PDP leadership to lead the Party by its Constitution, rules and regulations led it into a chaotic and undisciplined Party,” the communique reads.

“The vision of the founding fathers for which the party was established and the role it played in restoring Nigeria as a stable and united country and key player on the regional, continental, and global stage has been washed away just as our roles as the leader of the black race is now overtaken by smaller and less endowed countries.

“The PDP, which is organic with the discipline, capacity, and history to lead and save Nigeria, is now a shadow of its old self.”

The group asked “well-meaning” members of the PDP, patriotic Nigerians, to join the coalition.

“All coalition partners must be united on the issues of national unity, democracy, national security, national economy, and the political will to stamp out corruption embedded in our institutions,” the opposition politicians said.

The PDP leaders said the coalition partners would “work out the modalities of winning all elections, taking into consideration local and national peculiarities”.

In recent weeks, opposition leaders have continued to hold consultations as part of a broader push to build a formidable coalition to dislodge the APC from power in 2027.

In May, TheCable reported that opposition leaders agreed to adopt the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as a platform to challenge the ruling party in the 2027 elections.

TheCable understands that the opposition leaders are scheduled to meet on Wednesday to restructure the leadership of the ADC as part of a broader strategy ahead of 2027.

“NIGERIA IS DIMINISHED’

The group said, “vested interests from within and the irresponsible actions of the APC-led federal government” have been using state institutions to “stifle and destroy democracy”.

“Painfully, Nigeria is now a diminished country and an embarrassment on the world stage,” the concerned leaders said.

“The APC government, which came into being on the false and evil propaganda to save Nigeria from PDP, is now a disaster to our nation and therefore must be voted out of power.

“All indices of development that support the comfort and quality of lives of the citizens have collapsed, and life is now hell in Nigeria.”

They added that the “heatwave unleashed by the APC federal government through threats, blackmail, and patronage has forced elected government officers to abandon the PDP”.