The 2023 presidential candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has said that he is not planning to quit the party as reported in a section of the media.
Atiku said he remains a member of the PDP while advocating for opposition parties to merge.
The former Vice President stated this in a statement shared on his verified Facebook page.
He was reacting to a news story by The Nation newspaper, supposedly owned by President Bola Tinubu, which claimed he was among leading opposition figures planning to form a new party to tackle the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 general election.
The report quoting some unnamed sources stated that Atiku had set in motion the machinery for the proposed party in collaboration with some members of the National Assembly, including Senator Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara State and Chairman of Northern Senators Forum, Senator Abdul Ningi.
Reacting to the report, Atiku said it was fabricated.
He said, “I have been inundated with calls from our party members, supporters, and concerned Nigerians regarding the fabricated story in The Nation, Tinubu’s ragtag, alleging my departure from the PDP.
“Let me be unequivocal: this is pure mischief, devoid of truth. I reaffirm my unwavering loyalty to the PDP while advocating the swift merger of opposition parties.
“The urgency of this consolidation cannot be overstated.”
Atiku accused President Bola Tinubu of engaging in a “relentless pursuit of personal agendas at the expense of national governance”.
“His myopic focus on 2027 betrays a disregard for the pressing needs of the populace. It’s high time he ceased his bumbling escapades and prioritised the welfare of the people.
“My media team is vigorously countering his baseless claims. Let this be a wake-up call to all: the pursuit of power must not overshadow the imperative of effective governance.
“Together, let us propel Nigeria forward, leaving behind the antics of political charlatans,” he said.