Atiku, Mark , Secondus, others urge PDP members to join coalition

By Tunde Opalana

Baring any last minute change, former vice president of Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar will this week lead his allies in the Peoples Democratic Party officially to the coalition of opposition politicians seeking to wrestle power from President Bola Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2027.

The PDP members met at the Transcorp Hilton in Abuja to conclude arrangement for a full transition into whatever platform the coalition will be adopting for the 2027 election.

The party leaders went into the meeting among other things discussed avenue available to them, to either remain in the PDP or move head long in adopting another platform .

However, in a communique issued at the end of the over three hours meeting, the team “encourages all well-meaning PDP Members and other patriotic Nigerians to join the coalition.”

The meeting urged “sll coalition partners must be united on the issues of National Unity, Democracy, National Security and National Economy, and the political will to stamp out corruption embedded in our institutions.”

The communique said “the coalition partners to work out the modalities of winning all elections taking into consideration local and national peculiarities.”.

The meeting was called to discuss the disturbing condition the party has been sunk into.

On the malaise in the PDP, the communiwue as read by David Mark read “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.

“Vested interests from within and the irresponsible actions of the APC led federal government which has been using State Institutions to stifle and destroy the Democracy knows no bounds!

“The inability of PDP leadership to lead the party by its Constitution, rules and regulations led it into a chaotic and undisciplined Party!

“The vision of the founding Fathers for which the Party was established and the role it played in restoring Nigeria as stable and united country and key player on the regional, continental, and global stage has been washed away just as our roles as the leader of the black race is now overtaken by smaller and less endowed countries.

“Painfully, Nigeria is now a diminished country and an embarrassment on the world stage!

“The meeting took time to deliberate deeply on the issues of democracy, national unity, national security, economy, corruption, governance, and other concerns plaguing our country.

The meeting resolved that “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.

“All indices of development that support the comfort and quality of lives of the citizens have collapsed, and life is now hell in Nigeria.

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“The PDP, which is organic with the discipline, capacity, and history to lead and save Nigeria, is now a shadow of its old self. The heatwave unleashed by the APC Federal government through threats, blackmail and patronage has forced elected officers in government to abandon the PDP.”

The meeting was presided over by former Senate President Mark.

At the meeting with Atiku, were former Senate President, David Mark, former PDP National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, former governors Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto), Liyel Imoke (Cross River), Babangida Aliyu (Niger), Gabriel Suswam (Benue), Sule Lamido (Jigawa) and Sam Egwu (Ebonyi).

Other notable party figures in attendance include Senator Ben Obi, former PDP National Women Leader, Chief Josephine Anenih, former National Organising Secretary Senator Austin Akobundu, ex-National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, and former National Financial Secretary, Abdullahi Maibasira, among others.

The Daily Times gathered that today, leaders of the different groups from all the political platforms will meet in Abuja to strategize on the available platform to be adopted and consideration of persons to coordinate the affairs of the movement in the interim.