Wike Ally Declares: “Atiku Is Out Of PDP” Amidst Coalition Talks And Internal Party Tensions
In a recent interview aired on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Tajudeen Yusuf, a former member of the House of Representatives and close ally of Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike, made a striking declaration regarding the political stance of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar. Yusuf stated unequivocally that Atiku is “out of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)” and is currently involved in broader coalition negotiations alongside various political actors.
This assertion adds fuel to ongoing discussions about the direction of the PDP and the reshaping of Nigeria’s political alliances ahead of the 2027 general elections. According to Yusuf, Atiku’s recent political maneuvers indicate a departure from partisan loyalty within the PDP to a more fluid, coalition-based strategy. “Atiku is out of PDP; he is in the coalition with a lot of people,” Yusuf affirmed.
Yusuf’s comments reflect deep dissatisfaction among certain PDP stakeholders who believe the party has lost its ideological compass. As a member of the faction often associated with the G5 governors and the Wike-led bloc, Yusuf has been vocal in challenging the decisions made by the PDP’s national leadership—especially those surrounding the 2023 presidential ticket.
He was particularly critical of the party’s choice to zone its 2023 presidential ticket to the North, effectively paving the way for Atiku’s nomination. He believes this move alienated a significant portion of the southern electorate and created internal fractures that ultimately cost the party the presidential election. “I blame Atiku for the 2023 election loss,” Yusuf said pointedly. “If Atiku had not bungled the Obi relationship, if Obi had remained in PDP, and he had picked Obi as vice president, he would have won the election. Obi represented the southern agitations. Nigerians were looking for something different.”
This commentary highlights what many analysts have long speculated—that internal discord and an inability to unify around a national ticket were central to the PDP’s defeat in 2023. Yusuf argued that if the party had embraced a more inclusive and regionally balanced strategy, it could have forged a winning coalition. He insisted that the political energy and credibility Peter Obi brought to the table could have dramatically shifted the electoral outcome had he remained under the PDP banner.
Further expressing his concerns over the state of the PDP, Yusuf lamented the recent defection of former Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, to the All Progressives Congress (APC). The defection of such a senior figure has been viewed as a troubling sign of instability and declining morale within the opposition party. Yusuf suggested that the internal wrangling and unresolved grievances stemming from the 2023 campaign season continue to erode the PDP’s cohesion and relevance.
Yusuf’s remarks underscore a broader reckoning within the PDP. With high-profile defections, ongoing coalition talks, and persistent calls for restructuring and strategic realignment, Nigeria’s main opposition party appears to be at a crossroads. As 2027 approaches, party leaders will be forced to decide whether to reconcile their differences, adapt to evolving political dynamics, or risk further fragmentation.
Ultimately, Yusuf’s comments serve as both a warning and a challenge to the PDP: without decisive leadership, ideological clarity, and strategic inclusiveness, the party may continue to lose both ground and credibility in the national political landscape.
