As the countdown to the 2027 general elections intensifies, the opposition coalition led by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has accused Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors of undermining the efforts to challenge President Bola Tinubu’s government. The coalition has criticized the governors for acting as spoilers and destroying opposition unity in Nigeria’s political landscape.
The statement, issued on Wednesday, came in response to the PDP Governors Forum meeting held on April 14, 2025, where the governors expressed their opposition to a proposal aimed at forming a broad-based coalition of opposition parties and other political groups.
🔥 Coalition’s Reaction: A Call for Political Renewal
Spokesperson for the coalition, Salihu Moh. Lukman, condemned the PDP governors for what he termed as “usurpation of power” from other PDP organs, asserting that their actions were detrimental to the opposition’s chances in the upcoming 2027 elections.
Lukman stressed that this coalition is a vital effort, not only for defeating the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) but also for rescuing Nigerian democracy from a potential collapse. He lamented the PDP’s prolonged absence from power, accusing the party of failing to provide a viable alternative to the APC for over a decade.
“For over ten years, Nigerians have watched as the PDP failed to rebuild itself into a credible opposition. Instead, the party has sunk into what appears to be a political graveyard, only to be revived by Tinubu’s APC to bury it for good,” Lukman said.
⚖️ Wike’s Influence and PDP’s Decline
Lukman pointed to Nyesom Wike, the influential super minister in the Tinubu-led administration, accusing him of ensuring that the PDP was unable to present a viable presidential candidate for the 2027 election. He suggested that Wike’s political maneuvering was intended to prevent a strong challenge to Tinubu’s re-election bid by splitting the opposition vote.
According to Lukman, the PDP governors’ actions, whether intentional or not, are playing directly into the hands of President Tinubu by making the opposition ineffective and divided.
🔴 PDP’s Self-Destructive Path
Lukman lamented the PDP’s internal collapse, pointing to the lack of party leadership and the failure to hold critical meetings such as the National Executive Council (NEC) gathering, which has not convened for two years. He emphasized that this failure further highlights the PDP’s inability to present a unified and effective alternative to the ruling party.
He criticized the party’s leadership for mismanaging itself and aligning with a government that many view as responsible for the collapse of democratic values in Nigeria.
🌍 A Call to Join the Coalition: A Plea for National Unity
The coalition stressed that the central goal is to rebuild Nigerian democracy by creating a strong, unified opposition. Lukman expressed hope that all political actors, including the PDP governors, would recognize the severity of the political crisis and join the coalition as a crucial part of the democratic restoration.
The coalition, now nearing the final stages of structuring its political agenda, aims to provide an alternative vision for Nigeria’s future. Leaders from the Labour Party (LP), Kaduna and Ekiti states, and some members of the APC, including Babachir Lawal, Peter Obi, and Nasir el-Rufai, have all lent their support to the coalition.
Lukman concluded by saying that despite opposition from the PDP governors, the coalition remains committed to ensuring Nigeria’s democratic survival and political regeneration, inviting all factions within Nigeria’s political landscape to contribute to the cause.
