Latest news with #AtikuAbubakar
BBC News
5 days ago
- Politics
- BBC News
Atiku resignation from PDP fit leave big hole for Nigeria main opposition party?
No be tori again say former vice president Atiku Abubakar don resign from Nigeria main opposition party, PDP. Sabi pipo for politics say di way Atiku Abubakar comot from di Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), fit affect di party popularity for future especially for 2027 general elections. Dis one dey come afta Atiku Abubakar, wey run for president under PDP for 2019 and 2023, announce say e don comot from di party on Wednesday. For di resignation letter wey Atiku personally sign and send give PDP Chairman for Jada 1 Ward, Adamawa State, e tok say to comot from di party pain am well-well but e no get choice. Atiku describe im exit as "heart-breaking" but necessary. E say di party don dey go one kain direction wey no follow di original reason why dem start am. Di last time wey Atiku comot from People Democratic Party (PDP) na 2014 wen e join All People Congress party (APC) help dem win 2015 election, but later e still comot from APC go back PDP for 2017. As e be now, Atiku neva join any new party. But many pipo dey reason say e fit join ADC sake of dem see am for one ADC coalition meeting wey happun for Abuja. Di party wey dem say dem wan take remove President Bola Tinubu for office for 2027 general election. Atiku exit fit affect PDP? Some political experts yarn say Atiku wey comot from PDP fit affect di party chance and reduce im popularity for future election. One political analyst from Kano, Comrade Sani Balarabe, believe say di way Atiku comot from PDP go leave big space inside di party. For interview wit BBC News Pidgin, e tok say "Atiku na big stakeholder for PDP. E get experience and supporters evriwia. If pesin like Atiku comot, e go affect di party well-well. "PDP strong, but Atiku na big name inside. If e comot, many of im people for different parts of Nigeria fit follow am go wherever e go." E also say to find anoda pesin wey fit spend money for PDP like Atiku go hard. "For politics, no be only pipo matter, money too matter. Atiku na big businessman, e get money and investment. Weda pipo like am or not, e dey sponsor many PDP activities. To find anoda pesin wey go fit do like am go tough." But Balarabe still believe say even though Atiku comot fit shake PDP, e too early to tok say PDP no go survive 2027 election. "For now, we no fit tok how PDP go be for 2027 sake of say Atiku and im pipo comot, new pipo fit still join. So e too early to conclude wetin go happun to PDP" Balarabe tok. 'Im resignation na better tin for PDP' But PDP don reply say Atiku comot no go shake dem or cause any wahala for di party. Di PDP Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Ibrahim Abdullahi, tok say na Atiku dey cause some of di problems for inside di party. "No be today Atiku dey comot. Political party no be for one person alone," Abdullahi tok. E add say "One of di complaints for Nigeria be say PDP dey look like say na Atiku get am, and e dey use am anytime e like." Abdullahi also say dem no dey worry say Atiku don comot, even though na him run for president two times and come second both times. "We no dey shake sake say di former president once tear im PDP card comot bifor, but later e still come back." E end am wit "Na pipo wey don benefit pass from di party na dem dey betray am pass."
BBC News
6 days ago
- Politics
- BBC News
Why Atiku lead di wave of resignations comot from PDP?
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar don resign from Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), afta e be member of di political party since1998. Inside one letter wey Atiku write to di chairman of PDP of im ward, Jada Local Government Area of Adamawa State on July 14, e tok say im resignation na becos of "irreconcilable differences" and e go like resign wit immediate effect. E express im gratitude to di PDP for di platform wey allow am to serve as vice president between 1999 to 2007 and contest for presidency twice. "I write to formally resign my membership from di Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) wit immediate effect," e tok. "I go like to take dis opportunity to express my profound gratitude for di opportunities di party don give me. "Serving two full terms as Vice President of Nigeria and being Presidential candidate twice dis na one of di most significant chapters of my life. As a founding father of dis esteemed Party, indeed e dey heartbreaking for me to make dis decision." "However, I find am necessary to part ways due to di current trajectory di party don take, wey I believe diverge from di foundational principles we stand for. Na wit heavy heart I resign, recognizing di irreconcilable differences wey don emerge." "I wish di party and dia leadership all di best in di future. Thank you once again for di opportunities and support." However, many reactions don follow Atiku resignation from di party. Di tok-tok pesin to Atiku Abubakar, Paul Ibe tell Arise News say di letter na leaked document but e tok say becos some of di party members dey work wit di rulling party openly na im make im principal comot from di party. E tok say now wey Atiku don comot from di party e go tok about wetin be im next step tomorrow. "No be about any ambition or 2027 election. As tins stand now no opposition party for Nigeria, na only one party di All Progressives Congress. E be like bus stop, all di buses dey go one place Oshodi, na wetin APC don turn am into," Paul Ibe tok. "Wetin happun to democracy, if we no get framework for democratic engagement we no go get opportunity for good governance. Atiku wan give Nigerians a viable platform to confront APC." "Right now, as I dey folow you tok former vice president don turn in im resignation, as member of PDP. Wen we wake up tomorrow e go turn take im next step. I bin tink say dem go dey happy about am becos dem tok say na im di di problem of dia party." Meanwhile, PDP neva confam officially weda Atiku don leave di party but govnor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, don hint say Atiku Abubakar don defect from di party. On Wednesday, Makinde tell tori pipo for Ondo state say PDP na institution, and any party member get di freedom to exit di party. "PDP na institution, and you get freedom of entrance and exit. Anyone wey dey hold PDP down, e betta for such individual to quit," e tok. "But one tin we must all realise be say players go come and go, governors go come and go, president go come and go but our state and kontri go remain." Oda keyholder stakeholders of PDP wey don comot from di party Also Dele Momodu, submit im resignation from di party on Thursday morning, e tok say some antidemocratic elements don seize PDP. Oga Momodu announce say im dey comot from di PDP to join di new coalition party, African Democratic Congress (ADC). "Our party don undeniably dey seize by antidemocratic elements, both from within and without, in broad daylight. "Diafore e dey honourable to give away di remain of di party to dem while di majority of us earnestly align wit di new coalition party, di African Democratic Congress (ADC)." In April, Delta state govnor, Sheriff Oborevwori comot from PDP to join APC, di news bin circulate for social media bifor di govnor and members of im cabinet declare say dem don join di ruling party. E neva dey clear but news don dey spread say Osun State govnor, Ademola Adeleke go soon defect from PDP to join anoda party to secure im seat for di 2026 govnorship election in Osun State. However, Iyiola Omisore wey be member of APC allege say Adeleke bon dey beg to join APC. Reaction from Nigerians and members of di rulling party Minister of Aviation Festus Keyamo, wey be key member of di ruling party, All Progressives Congress condemn Atiku decision to resign days afta di death of former President Muhammadu Buhari. "Your Excellency, whilst I acknowledge say e dey within your constitutional right to change political parties at any time you may wish, releasing your letter of resignation from di PDP during dis week of di mourning of our immediate past President, Muhammadu Buhari, na clearly attempt to draw di spotlight away from such occasion and direct am on yoursef," e tok. "E dey both morally and legally wrong to kontinu to use di Coat of Arms of di federal goment in your private or political communication wen you stop being functionary of di federal goment more dan 18 years ago. "Section 6 of di Flag and Coat of Arms Act, Cap. F30, Laws of di Federation of Nigeria, 2004 make dis offence." Atiku Abubakar political career under di PDP 78-eight-year-old, Atiku Abubakar serve under PDP as Nigeria vice president in 1999 to 2007, e contest as presidential candidate in 2019 and 2023 but e no win. Although Atiku don dump di PDP three times since im join, e leave for 2006 to go join Action Congress and 2014 to join APC wen dem bin newly form di party. E don try to become di president of Nigerian since 1993 under different political parties, Social Democratic Party (SDP), PDP, AC, and APC. Till today, Atiku remains one of Nigeria politician wey don contest for di seat of presidency but e neva win. Hopefully e fit win in di 2027 election, if im contest.
BBC News
6 days ago
- Politics
- BBC News
'Why I miss Buhari burial'
Dem don bury former Nigeria president Muhammadu Buhari wey die on Sunday. Di state burial wey di Federal goment organise happun on Wednesday for Daura, Katsina state, Northwest Nigeria. Dis na a day afta dem declare public in honour of di former president. Many people including Nigeria President Bola Tinubu, leaders of foreign kontris and diplomats follow for di crowd of mourners wey land for Daura. Also, ogbonge political leaders – both from the ruling and opposition parties lead by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar also full for dia. But pesin wey many pipo notice im absence na Peter Obi, leader of di Obidient Movement. A group of young and energetic supporters of di opposition leader wey contest and pull crowd for di 2023 presidential election as a first timer. Many pipo bin dey wonder why Oga Peter Obi no show for di burial. Dis also generate many reactions for social media. Peter Obi tok why e miss Buhari burial Peter Obi na popular voice among young pipo for Nigerian wey don come to appreciate im economic lifestyle. Most times dem dey like to see am ontop national platforms and dem don begin ginger am again to contest di 2027 presidential election. Though e miss di former President burial, Peter Obi later join new set of mourners wey land for Daura. E join former Vice President Atiku, Nasir El-Rufai and oda opposition leaders to visit di family of di deceased former leader. "E dey hard for me to come yesterday [Wednesday] becos like dem tok bifor, e bin dey very hard to get flight to enta Katsina," Obi tell BBC for interview for Daura. E add say "Even wen you get di flight, e dey hard to land for di airport becos e don full. And mourning period na yesterday, today and tomorrow. And whoever dey hia now still dey part of di mourning"
BBC News
06-07-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
'Peter Obi no go ever be president'
Nigeria Minister of di Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike say, 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi no go ever be president of di kontri. Di one time govnor of Rivers State, tok dis one during one thanksgiving wey dem do for project inauguration for Abuja. Wike, one of di close allies of President Bola Tinubu, tok dis one as im dey react to one new coalition party wey some heavy weight politicians wit presidential ambition form as opposition to di ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) party. E say, "You say Peter Obi go be president. President wia? Some of una no sabi somebody, una go just dey tok out of emotion." Di minister also drag oda coalition members Atiku Abubakar, Rauf Aregbesola and odas. Oga Wike kwesion why former vice president of di kontri and di 2023 presidential candidate of di Peoples Democratic Party dey jump from one party to anoda. "How Nigerians no go vex for you today. For 1999 you dey dis party. For 2006 you dey anoda party, for 2014, you move go anoda party. In 2019 you go back to anoda party. Now 2025 you dey go anoda party. To rescue who?" Wike ask. E tell former minister of interior, Arebesola say n aim Nigerians dey angry wit becos im make dem wait for many many months before dem for fit get dia international passport. Di minister declare say as all of dem don comot from power, dem no go come back.
Times of Oman
06-07-2025
- Politics
- Times of Oman
Can Nigeria's new opposition coalition defeat Tinubu?
Abuja: According to the opposition, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) can challenge President Bola Tinubu'sgrip on power at the 2027 general election in Nigeria. The ADC coalition, led by former presidential candidate Peter Obi and ex-Vice President of Nigeria Abubakar Atiku, says it is uniting to address what they describe as the country's worsening economic condition under the Tinubu administration. Nigeria's opposition is reeling from defections of top leaders and politicians to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). Aside from Obi and Atiku, the coalition includes former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, former Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi. "We are fighting for the soul of the country, that is what this coalition is about," Yunusa Tanko, a member of the new coalition and coordinator of Obi's so-called "Obidient" movement, told DW. "The Nigerian system is in a bad state — there's hunger in the land, rising insecurity, and clear disdain for democratic values," Tanko said. "Many true democrats believe the system must be rejigged. This coalition is a collective effort to fight for the soul of Nigeria and defend the essence of democracy. It's also about making sure hunger doesn't wipe away the people in the midst of plenty." Nigeria has regularly held peaceful elections since the return of democracy in 1999, despite allegations of electoral fraud, political violence and corruption. Reaction from President Tinubu's allies While supporters of the coalition remain optimistic of victory in the 2027 polls, Tinubu's ruling APC dismissed the new party as a coalition of "retired politicians without electoral value." Binta Garba Massi, a former lawmaker and supporter of Tinubu, told DW: "Coalition in a democratic setting — this is healthy to me. But the process of trying to unseat an incumbent president is another issue." She cited the time when the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was in power, the APC (which was then in opposition) had formed a coalition. "But now... I think it's an entirely different ball game," she said. Coalitions are not new in Nigerian politics. The country's opposition has tried this before. In 2015, the APC itself was born from a coalition that succeeded in defeating then-incumbent Goodluck Jonathan. That coalition broke the PDP's 16-year grip on power, leading to the election of then-opposition candidate Muhammadu Buhari. However, observers note that the dynamics are significantly different now. "I think it's too early to say if the coalition can make any real impact," Mallam Baba Yusuf, a political analyst, told DW. "If we consider the current political dynamics in Nigeria, it seems more like just another political gathering," Baba Yusuf explained, adding that President Tinubu and others in the APC have decades of experience in opposition and were able to unseat an incumbent in 2015. "Their methodology, approach, and mindset were quite different from what we're seeing now. Unless the current opposition leaders significantly change their strategy, I don't see them making much of a dent." Economic challenges deepen Since taking office in May 2023, President Tinubu's government has implemented bold economic reforms—ending fuel subsidies and floating the naira—in an effort to attract foreign investment and restructure public finances. A recent World Bank report stated that Nigeria's economy had recorded its largest growth in the past decade. However, Nigerians have been feeling the pinch; the cost of living has surged, and millions are struggling to afford basic necessities, including food, housing, and transportation. For many grappling with inflation, joblessness, and rising insecurity, the coalition promises a new political vehicle — but its chances remain uncertain. "As they are coalescing, the current administration is strategizing. There is insecurity in almost every part of Nigeria — is that the fault of the APC?" Garba Massi, a Tinubu ally, said. "Some of the people fighting the president today were helped by him to grow politically. But rest assured, APC is still standing strong and waxing stronger. At the end of the day, APC will clinch that seat in 2027 by the special grace of God." Organizers of the ADC coalition say discussions are ongoing with a roadmap to register the party and present a single opposition presidential candidate in the 2027 election.
