Atiku’s Reaffirmation of Loyalty to PDP and Coalition Agenda: A Bold Step Toward Reclaiming Nigeria in 2027.
By Gyas Maxwell Joel
In an era where political loyalty often yields to expediency, and rumors of defection routinely overshadow substance, former Vice President and 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has made a bold and reassuring statement: he is going nowhere. Not to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), and not away from the struggle to rescue Nigeria.
At a recent meeting with the women members of the PDP Board of Trustees (BoT), led by the seasoned and respected Hajia Inna Ciroma, Atiku reaffirmed his steadfast commitment to the PDP and unveiled a broader vision—a national coalition aimed squarely at unseating the APC in the 2027 general elections.
In his words, “The coalition is a necessity,” not merely for political advantage, but as a strategic and moral response to the systemic failures of the APC-led administration. The emphasis here is critical. This is not about personal ambition, but national salvation.
Atiku’s remarks come at a time of deep public disillusionment. With economic hardship at unprecedented levels, insecurity choking everyday life, and governance reduced to theatrics and tokenism, the Nigerian populace is yearning—not just for change, but for competence and courage. Atiku’s open commitment to coalition-building, while maintaining the PDP’s institutional integrity, speaks to this national yearning.
His historical reference to the NPN-NPP accord of the Second Republic is not without purpose. It’s a call to rediscover a forgotten playbook—where opposition forces, though ideologically distinct, found common ground in the national interest. It’s a recognition that no single party, no matter how storied, can alone dismantle the entrenched failures of the current regime.
The significance of this message was not lost on the women of the BoT, who expressed grave concerns about the leadership vacuum in the party. “We are disturbed that the party has no leadership,” Ciroma stated bluntly. “And any organization without leadership cannot stand.” Their worries reflect those of millions across Nigeria who fear that the PDP risks drifting at a time when purposeful direction is most needed.
Yet, what emerged from this dialogue was not despair, but determination. These women—many of them political pioneers, administrators, and grassroots mobilizers—are championing a mission of party revival and national rebirth. Their engagement with Atiku, and with other party leaders like the Acting National Chairman, Amb. Umar Damagum, signals a rising urgency: the PDP must rise again, not merely to regain power, but to restore faith in Nigeria’s democracy.
Atiku’s reassurance could not have come at a better time. As defections thin PDP ranks and the APC presides over a crumbling economy, the notion of a formidable coalition offers hope—a practical blueprint to challenge one-party dominance and revive competitive democracy.
Importantly, this movement is bigger than any one man. It is about galvanizing Nigerians—young and old, North and South, Christian and Muslim—around shared values: justice, inclusiveness, security, economic renewal, and accountable leadership. It is about building a political culture where no clique monopolizes power, and where citizens reclaim ownership of the democratic process.
This point was underscored when Hajia Ciroma said, “Parties must belong to the people, and everyone has a role to play in the growth of the party.” It’s a reminder that democracy cannot thrive where parties are reduced to platforms for transactional politics. Party funding, leadership selection, grassroots engagement—all must reflect the people’s will.
As 2027 approaches, Atiku Abubakar’s stance sends a powerful message: unity is strength, coalition is strategy, and loyalty to party and nation can still coexist in Nigerian politics. In refusing to bow to pressure or prioritize self-preservation, he is pointing us toward a new political horizon.
The road to 2027 will be long and arduous. But in Atiku’s reaffirmation and the BoT women’s resolve, there lies a renewed sense of purpose. A belief that Nigeria can be reclaimed. That hope can be restored. That the darkness of failed leadership can give way to the dawn of democratic redemption.
For a nation as battered and disillusioned as ours, that promise is not just timely—it’s vital.
Gyas Maxwell Joel
TCM, Organizing Secretary.
