Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has responded publicly for the first time to the wave of defections rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), particularly in Delta State where Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, his predecessor Ifeanyi Okowa, and other key party figures recently switched allegiance to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
In a statement released via his official X handle on Friday, Atiku expressed no resentment over the defections, characterizing them as routine features of democratic systems. “Defections, alliances, and realignments are not new in politics,” he said, adding that everyone has the right to political association.
Atiku also addressed the backlash following his recent visit to former President Muhammadu Buhari in Kaduna—a move that drew sharp criticism from PDP chieftains, notably Chief Bode George. George accused Atiku of sidelining party interests in favor of a personal coalition-building agenda, calling the visit a betrayal of PDP principles.
But Atiku dismissed the criticisms as misguided. “Let’s not rewrite history,” he stated, referencing the 2013 merger of opposition parties which also involved consultations with former leaders like Olusegun Obasanjo and Ibrahim Babangida. “Buhari is a significant statesman. Visiting him should not be considered a political crime.”
He further called out what he described as double standards within Nigeria’s political class. “When PDP leaders are brokering deals with President Tinubu, it’s called strategy. But when I meet with Peter Obi, El-Rufai, or Buhari, it suddenly becomes a national emergency,” he noted pointedly.
Turning to broader national issues, Atiku criticized the Tinubu administration’s performance, blaming it for Nigeria’s economic woes. He pointed to rising inflation, surging unemployment, and escalating youth unrest as indicators of policy failure.
Calling for unity and focus, Atiku urged Nigerians to look past ethnic or regional divisions. “We must resist those who use identity politics to divide us. Our real struggle is not party against party—it is the people against failed governance,” he declared.
