By James Adamu in Abuja
Key opposition figures including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and ex-Senate President David Mark have initiated a strategic mobilization effort to recruit PDP members into a growing coalition opposing President Tinubu’s administration, with eyes firmly set on the 2027 general elections.
The two prominent PDP figures were flanked by other senior party leaders, including Chief Tom Ikimi, Chairman of the PDP Disciplinary Committee, who in March recommended the expulsion of the PDP National Secretary for alleged violations of Article 58(1)(f) of the party’s constitution over purported anti-party activities.
Their appeal for PDP members to abandon a sinking ship came less than a day after PDP Chairman Senator Bala Mohammed earned resounding applause at the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting for his forceful rejection of efforts to drag the PDP into an external political alliance.
In a sharply worded communiqué, the dissident group—branding itself as Concerned Leaders of the PDP—launched a scathing broadside against the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) while declaring the PDP too weak and incapacitated to mount a credible challenge in the 2027 elections.
“The PDP, which is organic with the discipline, capacity, and history to lead and save Nigeria, is now a shadow of its old self,” they stated in a communiqué at the end of their four-hour closed door meeting at Transcorp-Hilton hotel in Abuja on Tuesday.
“The meeting encourages all well-meaning PDP members and other patriotic Nigerians to join the coalition,” they stated.
According to the coalition which is yet to confirm or deny speculations that they are headed for the ADC, their motivation is solely for the cause of rescuing Nigeria.
“The meeting of concerned leaders of our great Party PDP was called to discuss the disturbing condition the Party has been sunk into; since our loss in the last presidential election and the exit of Dr. Iyorchia Ayu as National Chairman, our dear Party has never been the same again.
“Vested interests from within and the irresponsible actions of the APC led federal government which has been using state institutions to stifle and destroy the democracy knows no bounds!
“The inability of PDP leadership to lead the party by its constitution, rules and regulations led it into a chaotic and undisciplined party!
“The vision of the founding fathers for which the party was established and the role it played in restoring Nigeria as 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.
“Painfully, Nigeria is now a diminished country and an embarrassment on the world stage!” they said.
The dissenting group emphasized that their deliberations centered on critical national issues – including democratic governance, national cohesion, security challenges, economic instability, systemic corruption, and broader governance failures. Mirroring longstanding party rhetoric, they squarely attributed Nigeria’s historical and contemporary crises to the APC-led federal government’s policies and administration.
“Arising from the above, the meeting hereby resolved that 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; the heat wave unleashed by the APC Federal government through threats, blackmail and patronage has forced elected officers in government to abandon the PDP.
“The meeting here now decides to encourage all well-meaning PDP members and other 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 coalition partners are to work out the modalities of winning all elections taking into consideration, local and national peculiarities,” they stated.
Recent developments suggest a significant political realignment as former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and ex-Senate President David Mark have become noticeably absent from key PDP events. Their prolonged non-participation has intensified speculation about their alleged dual membership in the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the Allied Democratic Agenda (ADA)—two parties reportedly being groomed as the political base for a broader anti-Tinubu coalition ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The strategic meeting drew a powerful contingent of PDP heavyweights, including former National Chairman Prince Uche Secondus, ex-governors Sule Lamido (Jigawa), Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto), Liyel Imoke (Cross River), Babangida Aliyu (Niger), Gabriel Suswam (Benue), and Sam Egwu (Ebonyi). Also present were prominent party figures such as Senator Ben Obi, former National Women Leader Josephine Annenih, ex-National Organising Secretary Senator Austin Akobundu, former Publicity Secretary Kola Ologbondiyan, and erstwhile Youth Leader Abdullahi Maibasira.
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