PDP leaders coalition talks reveal shocking rift as Atiku allies accuse APC of using threats, blackmail and patronage to decimate opposition ahead of 2027

Prominent leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) held a high-level closed-door meeting on Tuesday, where they accused the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led Federal Government of employing threats, blackmail, and patronage to force defections and weaken the opposition.

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The meeting, attended by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Senate President David Mark, signals an intensifying political realignment ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections.

Held at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel in Abuja, the strategic meeting brought together key party figures including ex-National Chairman Uche Secondus, former governors Sule Lamido, Liyel Imoke, Babangida Aliyu, Sam Egwu, Olagunsoye Oyinlola, Senator Abdul Ningi, and other former national officers.

The discussions focused on forming a possible coalition platform to challenge President Bola Tinubu’s expected re-election bid.

Sources at the meeting confirmed that participants debated whether to fully integrate into a broader political coalition or maintain PDP membership while supporting an electoral alliance.

The move reflects ongoing tensions within the PDP, particularly over Atiku Abubakar’s potential candidacy and its impact on internal party dynamics.

“There is a clear concern among certain factions about Atiku’s possible return to the ballot,” one insider disclosed. “They fear a northern presidency in 2027 may upset delicate political arrangements.”

Reports indicate that a federal minister and a North East governor are among those uneasy about Atiku’s ambition, believing the presidency should remain in the South until 2031.

Despite such resistance, Atiku appeared determined to forge ahead, drawing strong support from allies present at the meeting.

“This is just the beginning,” another source said. “Many others aligned with Atiku are watching developments closely. This may mark the start of a significant political movement.”

A communique released after the meeting painted a grim picture of the PDP’s condition since the 2023 elections and the removal of Dr. Iyorchia Ayu as National Chairman. The party, they claimed, had suffered serious setbacks due to internal dysfunction and external interference.

“Since our loss in the last presidential election and the exit of Dr. Iyorchia Ayu as National Chairman, our dear Party has never been the same again,” the communique stated.

The statement also accused the ruling APC of weaponising state institutions to undermine democratic processes. “The APC government, which came into being on the false and evil propaganda to save Nigeria from PDP, is now a disaster to our nation and therefore must be voted out of power,” it read.

Describing Nigeria under APC rule as diminished and globally embarrassing, the leaders criticised worsening insecurity, economic decline, and what they termed the failure of the anti-corruption fight. They argued that internal sabotage and external coercion were responsible for the defection of many elected PDP officials.

“The heatwave unleashed by the APC Federal Government through threats, blackmail and patronage has forced elected officers in government to abandon the PDP,” the document noted.

In what appeared to be an endorsement of the emerging coalition, the PDP leaders urged like-minded Nigerians to unite behind a shared national agenda rooted in democracy, unity, and institutional reform.

“All coalition partners must be united on the issues of national unity, democracy, national security, national economy, and the political will to stamp out corruption embedded in our institutions,” the communique stressed.

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As the 2027 elections approach, the group resolved to begin work on strategies to reclaim political power across all levels, carefully considering both local and national contexts.