The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has refuted claims suggesting an internal agreement to grant the party’s presidential ticket to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar or any other senior party figure ahead of the 2027 general elections. This clarification was made by Timothy Osadolor, the party’s Deputy National Youth Leader, during an interview with Punch on Friday......See Full Story>>.....See Full Story>>
Osadolor emphasized that the PDP is firmly committed to ensuring a transparent and democratic process in the selection of its presidential candidate. He stated that decisions regarding candidacy will be made through the party’s established procedures, which include open processes such as primaries.
“Nobody has formally informed the party of their intention to run, nor has the party taken any stance on who will be its candidate,” Osadolor explained. “Currently, there has been no official announcement about the sale of nomination forms, and no calls have been made for the primaries. Therefore, it is premature to discuss who is running and who isn’t.”
Osadolor’s remarks came just two days after Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, expressed his belief that Atiku’s chances of securing the PDP’s presidential ticket for 2027 were slim. Wike’s statement suggested that given the party’s recent history, Atiku might not be able to reclaim the ticket.
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While acknowledging Wike’s perspective, Osadolor asserted that Atiku should not be completely dismissed as a potential candidate for the 2027 elections. He pointed to the example of Donald Trump’s surprise victory in the U.S. presidential race as evidence that unexpected outcomes are possible. “If Trump could win, anything is possible,” Osadolor said. “Wike’s observations are valid; after all, it’s ultimately about the people’s choice. There may have been issues with Atiku’s branding in the past, but there are still people who believe the last election was unfair and that he actually won.”
He further noted that Atiku’s chances of success in the next election would require broad support from various party factions, including key figures like Nyesom Wike. “Atiku will need to unite the party and win the support of everyone, including people like Wike, if he is to have a realistic chance of winning,” Osadolor concluded.