2027 Election: Atiku Breaks Silence on Claim He Dumped PDP, “Peter Obi, Nasir El-Rufai Are Involved”

• Atiku Abubakar, the flagbearer of the PDP in the 2023 presidential election, has responded to the growing rumours that he would dump the PDP for another platform
• In an interview on Thursday, May 22, 2025, Atiku's media aide, Paul Ibe, clarified that his boss is not leaving the PDP
• Ibe noted that although Atiku is in talks with Peter Obi, Nasir El-Rufai, and other figures for a coalition ahead of the 2027 election, he remains in the PDP

Legit.ng journalist Esther Odili has over two years of experience covering political parties and movements.

Former vice president Atiku Abubakar has debunked speculations that he is planning to abandon the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for a mega platform proposed by the opposition coalition ahead of the 2027 election.

2027 election: Atiku denies dumping the PDP

Atiku's media aide, Paul Ibe, made the clarification when he featured on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Thursday, May 22, 2025.

As reported by The Punch, Ibe confirmed that aside from a former Kaduna Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, Atiku has also been talking to the Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Peter Obi.

Atiku in talks with Obi, El-Rufai - aide

He said:

“My principal has said that he wasn’t leaving the PDP and you have to respect what he has said. I don’t need to come here to speak about it. It is an issue he has spoken of.

“There is an ongoing discussion between Atiku Abubakar and some opposition leaders like Peter Obi and Nasir El-Rufai. Yes, it’s out there in the open. Discussion is still ongoing. At the end of that discussion, they will come out with a position and a direction that we’re going to follow based on the yearnings and aspirations of Nigerians.

“To also answer your question, yes, Peter Obi and Atiku are involved. And they are also talking.”

Recall that the PDP Governors Forum, led by Governor Bala Mohammed, rejected the coalition proposal and opted instead to welcome other parties and individuals into the PDP for 2027.

In response, former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal, dismissed the PDP being considered a viable option for the proposed opposition coalition, citing deep-rooted issues within the party.

Lawal described the PDP as having an "incurable virus," making it unfit to serve as a foundation for the much-anticipated alliance meant to challenge the APC in the 2027 elections.

The former SGF also shared details about former vice president Atiku Abubakar's ongoing involvement in the 2027 coalition talks.

Atiku’s rebuttal came a few hours after reports emerged that the Key opposition figures, including Atiku, Peter Obi, and former governors, have chosen the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as their coalition platform to challenge Tinubu in 2027.

However, the coalition described as false and misleading the report that it had adopted the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as its preferred political platform.

This was disclosed in a terse statement signed by a key stakeholder of the coalition and former National Vice Chairman (North-West) of the All Progressives Congress, Mallam Salihu Lukman, in Abuja on Thursday, May 22.

Read more about the 2027 presidency here:

• Atiku or Tinubu: “Who will north or Buhari support in 2027?”
• 2027 presidency: Why Tinubu may dump VP Shettima
• 2027: Tinubu told not to run for second term, reason emerges
• Buhari’s endorsement not needed to defeat Tinubu

2027 election: How Atiku can unseat Tinubu

Legit.ng earlier reported that PDP National Youth Group spokesperson, Dare Glintstone Akinniyi, expressed his opinion after Atiku insisted that he has not left the PDP amid growing rumours in the polity.

In an interview with Legit.ng, Akinniyi warned that the 2027 election will not be won playing by the old political rules but by building a powerful coalition against the APC.

Akinniyi urged Atiku to declare his 2027 presidential ambition and unite with Peter Obi, El-Rufai and other aggrieved politicians to defeat the ruling government led by Bola Tinubu.

Proofreading by James Ojo, copy editor at Legit.ng.

Source: Legit.ng