Atiku PDP Leaders Mobilize Support for Coalition Ahead of 2027 Presidential Election
Call for united opposition and institutional reform as new coalition eyes Tinubu’s seat in 2027
ABUJA, Nigeria | July 1, 2025
Prominent figures within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), led by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and ex-Senate President David Mark, have issued a clarion call to party faithful and Nigerians at large to support a growing opposition coalition aimed at challenging the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 presidential election.
The call was contained in a communiqué signed by Mark and released following a meeting of senior PDP leaders in Abuja on Tuesday. The document outlined a shared commitment to restoring national unity, protecting democratic values, and combating corruption through a coordinated political front.
“All coalition partners must stand united on issues of national unity, democratic reform, economic recovery, and institutional integrity,” the communiqué stated. “We encourage all patriotic Nigerians and PDP members to join this collective effort.”
The strategic meeting comes amid rising discontent with President Bola Tinubu’s administration, which has drawn mixed reactions for its handling of economic challenges and governance reforms. Opposition leaders have frequently criticized the APC government, branding it ineffective and divisive.
Despite internal rifts within major opposition parties—including the PDP, Labour Party (LP), and New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP)—efforts to form a united political alliance have intensified. On March 20, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, LP’s Peter Obi, and former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai unveiled a political coalition in Abuja, signaling a new chapter in Nigeria’s opposition politics.
Weeks later, on May 19, The PUNCH reported exclusively that the African Democratic Congress (ADC) had been adopted as the coalition’s formal platform. The move aimed to consolidate efforts ahead of the 2027 elections. Former Senate President David Mark was named interim chairman of the coalition, with an official unveiling planned for early July.
In Tuesday’s communiqué, Concerned PDP Leaders lamented the party’s weakened state since its loss in the 2023 presidential election and the resignation of former National Chairman Dr. Iyorchia Ayu.
“The PDP’s failure to uphold its constitutional values has led to a crisis of leadership,” the communiqué read. “The party, once a symbol of national cohesion and democratic strength, is now struggling to assert its relevance both domestically and internationally.”
The PDP leaders accused the APC-led government of using state institutions to suppress democratic opposition and destabilize party structures. They also condemned what they described as targeted coercion, blackmail, and undue influence on elected PDP officials, many of whom have since defected or gone silent.
“Nigeria is currently facing a dangerous decline in global reputation, with worsening living standards and eroded civil liberties,” the statement continued. “All meaningful indicators of human development have collapsed. The APC, which rose to power through propaganda, has become a national liability.”
The meeting was attended by an influential bloc of PDP heavyweights, including former Governors Sule Lamido (Jigawa), Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto), Liyel Imoke (Cross River), Babangida Aliyu (Niger), and Sam Egwu (Ebonyi).
Other prominent attendees included Prince Uche Secondus, former National Chairman of the PDP; Senator Ben Obi; ex-Women Leader Josephine Anenih; former National Organising Secretary Senator Austin Akobundu; former National Publicity Secretary Kola Ologbondiyan; and past National Youth Leader Abdullahi Maibasira.
As Nigeria inches closer to the 2027 general elections, the formation of a unified opposition coalition marks a critical test of political resilience and reform. While questions remain about the coalition’s stability and public appeal, its emergence signals growing momentum for a credible alternative to the current administration.
