2027: Atiku’s Coalition Accuses PDP Governors of Collusion with Tinubu, Warns of Opposition Collapse
In a fiery rebuke, a coalition led by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has accused governors of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of deliberately sabotaging the opposition and aligning with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in what it calls a grand conspiracy to dismantle any credible alternative ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The coalition, which is positioning itself as a pan-Nigerian political resistance front, issued a scathing statement on Wednesday through its spokesman, Salihu Moh. Lukman, condemning PDP governors for opposing the formation of a united front against the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The PDP Governors Forum had, during a meeting held on April 14, distanced itself from the coalition plan, a move Lukman described as a calculated betrayal designed to fracture the opposition space and hand Tinubu a walkover in 2027.
A Compromised Opposition?
Lukman did not mince words in his indictment of the PDP, asserting that many of its governors have become de facto political assets to the APC.
“Nigerians waited for over a decade for the PDP to rise from its ruins and become a credible opposition force. Instead, the party descended into coma — a vegetative state — until the Tinubu-led APC found a willing undertaker to bury it permanently,” he said.
He pointedly accused PDP governors of usurping the powers of the party’s constitutional organs and reducing the party to a transactional platform run by a handful of self-serving elites.
“The PDP is no longer an opposition party. It has become a decaying shell hijacked by APC sympathizers and political mercenaries masquerading as party faithful,” Lukman declared.
He cited the continued political relevance of Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike — a former PDP governor — as proof of the alliance between Tinubu and certain PDP actors.
“Wike is not indispensable in Tinubu’s cabinet because of performance, but because he is the hatchet man who has ensured the PDP cannot produce a serious contender in 2027.”
Collapse of Internal Democracy and Party Structure
The coalition also decried the institutional collapse within the PDP, stating that the party has not held a National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting in over two years. This, it said, is symptomatic of deep internal rot and the erosion of democratic values.
“It is an indictment on the party’s leadership that no Nigerian today can say for certain who is truly in charge of the PDP,” Lukman lamented. “This is the price of a hijacked system. The governors now operate as warlords with no accountability to the party’s rank and file.”
He warned that if PDP governors are left unchecked, they will not only destroy their party but also weaken Nigeria’s already fragile democratic institutions.
A Trojan Horse Strategy?
Perhaps the most damning allegation was that of deliberate political sabotage: the coalition believes the PDP’s refusal to align with broader opposition efforts is not borne out of ideological differences, but a covert strategy to divide the anti-Tinubu vote in 2027.
“What we are seeing is a classic Trojan horse strategy. These governors are playing Tinubu’s game — splitting votes, weakening real opposition and ensuring that 2027 becomes a one-horse race,” Lukman said.
The coalition posits that rebuilding Nigerian democracy now requires looking beyond party labels and romantic affiliations. It is calling on all patriotic Nigerians, regardless of political party, to join a unified resistance to what it describes as creeping authoritarianism under the APC.
“It no longer makes sense to invest energy in a party where key actors are either appointees of the APC government or silent collaborators. This is not opposition; this is political theatre,” he said.
The Grand Coalition: An Alternative or Mirage?
Lukman confirmed that the coalition, composed of leaders from across political divides, is in advanced stages of formalizing its structure and action plan. Among its key architects are Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi, former Kaduna Governor Nasir El-Rufai, estranged APC chieftain Babachir Lawal, and other aggrieved APC stalwarts such as Abdullahi Adamu, Rotimi Amaechi, and Kayode Fayemi.
“This is not just another coalition of convenience. This is a determined effort to restore faith in democratic processes and reintroduce the culture of political negotiation and accountability,” Lukman stated.
He emphasized that both APC and PDP have repeatedly violated political agreements and disrespected democratic norms, leaving Nigerians with no choice but to demand a new political order.
The Battle for 2027: A Fight for Nigeria’s Soul
With growing public disenchantment over insecurity, corruption, economic hardship, and political impunity, analysts warn that Nigeria’s democracy is entering a dangerous phase. The failure of opposition parties to unite may very well hand the Tinubu administration another term — unchallenged and unchecked.
The coalition is urging citizens and political stakeholders to wake up to the danger of a one-party state and take action.
“This is not just about removing Tinubu or replacing PDP. It’s about rescuing a democracy that is gasping for air. It is time to choose: political survival or national suicide.”
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2027: Atiku’s Coalition Accuses PDP Governors of Collusion with Tinubu, Warns of Opposition Collapse