Atiku Abubakar Denies Plans To Leave PDP For SDP

Former Vice President Dismisses Defection Rumors

Former Vice President and 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has refuted claims that he is planning to defect to the Social Democratic Party (SDP).

Speculation about Atiku’s possible defection surfaced amid reports of his increasing political engagements with former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai. However, Atiku’s special adviser on broadcast media, Abdulrasheed Shehu, has strongly dismissed the rumors.

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Atiku’s Camp Debunks Claims

Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Shehu urged the public to ignore the misinformation.

“Disregard the misinformation! Atiku Abubakar has neither joined nor is joining the SDP. This baseless speculation is a deliberate attempt to mislead,” he wrote.

The rumors intensified due to El-Rufai’s growing dissatisfaction with the All Progressives Congress (APC). The former governor has recently fallen out of favor with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, leading to speculation that he might exit the ruling party.

El-Rufai’s Position Fuels Political Speculation

El-Rufai has openly criticized the APC, stating that if the party deviates from its founding principles, he may reconsider his membership. However, he made it clear that his alternative would not be the PDP, the party Atiku currently belongs to.

This fueled speculation that both Atiku and El-Rufai, along with their political allies, could be considering a realignment under the SDP as a strategic move ahead of the 2027 elections.

PDP’s Internal Crisis and the Future of Opposition Politics

The PDP has been grappling with internal leadership crises following its defeat in the 2023 presidential election. Some political analysts believe that if the party fails to resolve its factional disputes, key figures like Atiku might explore other options to maintain political relevance.

Despite the denials, the speculation highlights the fluid nature of Nigerian politics, where alliances can shift quickly based on party dynamics and leadership struggles.

For now, Atiku remains in the PDP, but political observers will be watching closely for any further developments as the 2027 presidential race begins to take shape.