Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has delivered a scathing assessment of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, declaring it a government bereft of achievements and incapable of justifying a re-election bid in 2027. In a statement issued on Friday, Atiku said the administration had failed to meet the expectations of Nigerians and that the real contest in 2027 would be a battle between the Nigerian people and the current government.
The PDP chieftain also addressed recent defections within his party, including those of Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, his predecessor Ifeanyi Okowa, and House of Representatives member Oluwole Oke, who all dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) on Wednesday.
“I have been overwhelmed with inquiries from concerned Nigerians, all eager to understand my position on the latest political shifts, particularly the defection of some PDP members to the ruling party,” Atiku stated. “Let me be unequivocal: freedom of association and expression are not optional in a democracy; they are fundamental rights. Alongside these stand the pillars of a just and functional democratic society — the people, the rule of law, credible elections, and accountability. Undermine any of these, and democracy itself begins to crumble.”
The former Vice President said he bore no grudges against anyone exercising their right to political alignment, describing defections, alliances, and realignments as inevitable features of democratic politics.
“We’ve seen them before, and we’ll see them again,” he noted.
Atiku also fired back at those who criticised his recent visit to former President Muhammadu Buhari, describing the outrage as hypocritical and driven by selective political sentiment.
“Let’s not rewrite history: Buhari is not only a former leader but a significant statesman in the Nigerian political landscape. During the 2013 opposition merger, the leaders of the time consulted widely, including visits to Obasanjo and Babangida. So why is it now sacrilegious for me and other leaders to visit Buhari in Kaduna? If you truly believe in freedom of association, then you must respect the rights of all political actors to engage, regardless of party lines,” he remarked.
Atiku accused some political actors of double standards, pointing out that while it is considered strategic when PDP leaders engage President Tinubu, his own meetings with Peter Obi, Nasir El-Rufai, or Buhari are sensationalised.
“When PDP leaders are busy sipping tea and brokering power deals with President Tinubu, it’s called a strategic alliance. But the moment I greet Peter Obi, El-Rufai, or visit Buhari, it becomes a national emergency. Hypocrisy and the politics of selective outrage have never been this fashionable,” Atiku stated.
Looking ahead to the 2027 general elections, the former Vice President described the coming contest as a battle for Nigeria’s future, calling on citizens to reject divisive rhetoric often weaponised by political elites.
“This moment is about collective survival. The real enemy is not one another; it is the Tinubu administration’s abysmal failure. We must reject every attempt to distract us with ethnic, regional, or religious sentiments. These are tools of manipulation, designed to divide and conquer, used by those with nothing else to offer,” he said.
“The Tinubu administration has no achievements to stand on, no credible record to defend. Its only strategy is chaos and division because that’s the last refuge of the incompetent. And make no mistake, an incompetent captain not only wrecks his ship; he endangers the lives of everyone on board.”
In a related development, it has emerged that former Kano State Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso and his New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) are currently evaluating their political options ahead of the 2027 elections.
A reliable source revealed that the Kwankwaso-led party is considering three possible courses of action: maintaining its independent platform under the NNPP, joining a coalition movement spearheaded by Atiku and other opposition figures, or forging an alliance with the ruling APC.
“What I can confirm is that Kwankwaso and the NNPP will not contest independently as they did in the 2023 elections,” the source disclosed. “Considering the current political landscape, they are weighing the possibility of either joining President Tinubu’s APC or aligning with the coalition led by Atiku, El-Rufai, and others.”
When contacted, the NNPP’s National Publicity Secretary, Ladipo Johnson, confirmed the ongoing discussions, explaining that the party traditionally waits until midterm before taking decisive political steps.
“Well, so far, what I’ll say is this: in the NNPP, we tend to, at least from our own history as the Kwankwasiyya movement, wait till midterm. May 29th will be the midterm for this administration. It will be two years down, and two years to go. That is when we believe that proper politicking will commence,” Johnson explained.
He acknowledged that while there has been speculation about Senator Kwankwaso moving to the APC, no official position has been taken.
“You’ll recall that there have been many publications in newspapers and online, insinuating that Senator Kwankwaso is moving to the APC, that it is imminent and all that. That is just the nature of the game. Some people are pressing or pushing that narrative for their selfish reasons.
“But the bottom line is that very soon, they will begin to hear from us. We will tell our supporters what we are doing. There are basically three cards on the table: either we remain in the NNPP and continue with those who joined us all the way; we form some sort of coalition with Atiku and others; or we form an alliance with the ruling party. I am not saying any of these is the case now. But these are the three basic options that could happen,” Johnson concluded.
As Nigeria’s political climate heats up ahead of 2027, observers are closely watching the moves of Atiku, Kwankwaso, and other key players, with alliances and realignments expected to significantly shape the electoral contest and the nation’s political direction.
