Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar  appears to have drawn the battle line with state governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) , and officials of the party who are opposed to his bid to enter into coalition with other political parties against the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Despite Atiku’s insistence on a coalition, believing it is the only way the APC can be defeated in 2027, the PDP has stoutly rejected the move.

The PDP says it is strong enough to wrest power from the APC and that all it needs to do is to put its house in order.

In this regard, it set up a reconciliation committee headed by a former President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki.

On Friday, Atiku was in Osun State where he shunned the state governor ,Senator Ademola Adeleke and the  state executives of the  party.

Officials  of the PDP yesterday interpreted the action of the ex – Vice President as a declaration of hostility.

“He has drawn the battle line because our governors are not with him in his move to forge a coalition and then run for president as usual,” a source in the PDP national secretariat told our correspondent yesterday.

The former vice president and his allies in the coalition talks are due to meet in Abuja today for more discussion on the way forward.

Top on the meeting’s agenda  is the platform they intend to use for the 2027 election.

Presidential candidate of  the Labour Party in the 2023 election, Peter Obi, who is widely speculated  as Atiku’s possible running mate in 2027 said yesterday that he still looks forward to contesting the election on the platform of LP,  which means he is unlikely to go along with the coalition.

Political sources said yesterday that Gov.Adeleke may have incurred Atiku’s wrath on account of  his (governor’s) stand on the coalition being promoted for  the former VP’s 2027 presidential bid.

Atiku had gone to  the state for the coronation of the new Owa of Ijesaland, HRH Adesuyi Haastrup.

He also  refused to meet with the Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Sunday Bisi and other members in the state.

Instead he  paid a courtesy call on ex-Governor Rauf Aregbesola, who is his new coalition ally.

According to findings,  Atiku’s cold attitude shocked Adeleke and PDP members in the state.

It was gathered that the ex-VP was unimpressed by lack of a firm commitment to his 2027 ambition by the governor and as a result, decided to draw the battle line early in the day with him.

Political observers in the state believe Atiku might have miscalculated because apart from being a sitting governor,  Adeleke’s popularity is at its peak in the state while Aregbesola’s influence is dwindling.

A senior government official, who spoke in confidence with our correspondent, said: “the ex-VP shocked the governor and PDP members by not notifying the state government of his visit. He did not pay a courtesy call on the governor and there was no notice to the state chapter of PDP of his coming.

“It is convenient for him to call his shuttle a private visit but as the former VP, he is under our care.

“It is a slight to shun the governor and visit Aregbesola in Ilesha. The message is clear to all. He has something up his sleeves.”

Asked what might have accounted for Atiku’s attitude,  the source said: “Maybe he is acting on body language or intuition to reach conclusions on Governor Adeleke who is amiable and amenable. I think for an experienced politician like Atiku, it is too early to arrive at any conclusion. He has a presumption that the governor has a mindset for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027.

“The second reason which is definitive is that Atiku is desperate for a new coalition and he knows that Governor Adeleke might not leave the PDP. Not coming to the governor was a message that he was done with the PDP.

“But Aregbesola cannot win Osun State for him in 2027. We wish Atiku good luck. His attitude has earned him more disdain than anything in Osun. It was a misstep.”

Atiku’s behaviour toward Adeleke was the subject of political discussion in many parts of the state all through Friday and yesterday. 

Atiku’s spokesman, Paul Ibe was yet to respond to questions sent to his WhatsApp line.

A PDP source said he wasn’t  surprised that  there is a political misunderstanding between the President and Governor Adeleke.

The source added: “As a matter of fact,  when Sen. Isiaka Adeleke died, President Tinubu wanted Governor Ademola Adeleke to succeed his brother but Aregbesola refused. Adeleke  was denied the ticket because of his closeness to the then President of the Senate  Dr. Bukola Saraki. He left APC for PDP and won the senatorial ticket.

“When the President asked why Governor Ademola Adeleke was refused APC senatorial ticket, the powers-  that-  be in Osun then  said he might contest for the  governorship. Asiwaju then asked ‘why not?’ Everything has come to pass, ” he said.

Unknown to many, a cold war has been brewing between  Adeleke and Aregbesola over their performances in office.

In the last few weeks,  Adeleke and Aregbesola have taunted each other at public functions in what appeared a sign of frosty relationship.

At a Rotary District  Conference in Ede, Osun State, Aregbesola,  who was the guest speaker,  spent quality time to reel out his achievements. He spoke of  how he transformed Osun State.

But  Adeleke, who came midway into Aregbesola’s lecture was ‘unsettled ‘  by what his predecessor said.

When it was his turn, Adeleke, who took style to say he was building on Aregbesola’s achievements, said the era of half salary was gone; he has not borrowed a dime; the Debt Management Office (DMO)  has confirmed that the  state  has cleared 40% of inherited debt since he  came into office.

He also said that he has completed a 14-kilometre dual carriageway in Ilesha and established University of Ilesha with 70 courses accredited.

“It is a matter of time before we end the alliance with Aregbesola, ” a PDP source added.

At a meeting  last month , PDP governors ruled out coalition with other parties for the 2027 presidential election.

The governors said the PDP was strong enough to oust the APC from power but welcomed any party that may want to join it.

Adeleke was at the meeting.

Atiku is nonetheless forging ahead with his bid to enter into coalition with interested parties.

 Last week, he and his coalition partners announced that they would use the ADP, instead of the SDP they had earlier announced, as the vehicle to realise their 2027 dream.

Atiku, others  push ahead with coalition despite PDP’s stance

 It was gathered yesterday that members of  the Atiku-led coalition will meet in Abuja today to perfect their plan ahead of 2027.

Some of those expected at the meeting are the immediate past governor of Kaduna State,Mallam Nasir El Rufai,former Transportation Minister Rotimi Amaechi and former Osun State governor Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola.

It was gathered that the group is banking on the support of the likes of the League of Northern Democrats (LND) which said last week that it was mobilising intensely across the north while considering the   options of registering a new opposition political party or fusing into an existing one.

It said in a communiqué that it would support the National Opposition Coalition Group chaired by Sen. President David Mark in “driving the transitional politics towards the 2027 general elections.”

I’ll contest on Labour Party’s platform, says Obi

Obi,in a video interaction with his supporters yesterday said he would contest the 2027 election on the platform of the LP.

 “I will still continue to run in the Labour Party. I’m a member of the Labour Party,” he said in response to  a question by one of his supporters.

He blamed the federal government for the crises in the PDP and LP,saying: “What is happening in the Labour Party and the PDP is caused by the government, quote me anywhere.

“We had a problem in our party before, in the past; Yar’Adua was the President. I went to him then; he called the INEC chairman (Prof. Maurice Iwu) and told him ‘I don’t want any problem in any party. We were forced to fix it.

“But today, in all the parties, there are problems; these are deliberate problems caused by the system. These are some of the things I want to clean up if I have the opportunity.

“Parties will function very well because you can’t have a system working without a strong opposition.”

No coalition yet, we are discussing how to move Nigeria forward, says Obidients’ National Coordinator

 National Coordinator of the Obidients Movement, Dr. Yunusa Tanko said there was no agreement in place yet on whether the group should join a  coalition of political parties ahead of the 2027 general election. 

Tanko told The Nation by  telephone that what is currently going on is discussion among respected Nigerians who are concerned about the way the country’s democracy is going.

He said ” It is just a group of persons who have tremendous respect for each talking about how to move the country forward.

“They are concerned about what is happening in our country and the way our democracy is going. They are concerned about reforming our electoral system to avoid what is going on right now when people are decamping anyhow.

Maybe if we had done this before now, people would  not be decamping the way they are doing now, taking the mandate of one party to another. It’s like having a football match and in the middle of the game, you jump from your team to the other because they are winning. If we allow that to continue, you won’t have anybody left in the opposing team to complete the game.”

Fresh confusion over PDP NEC meeting

A letter written  yesterday in the name of the embattled national secretary of the PDP,Samuel Anyanwu,has sparked confusion over the party’s much rescheduled National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting.

Daboikiabo  Warmate, spokesman to Anayanwu said in the letter that the NEC meeting scheduled for Tuesday, May 27, 2025 had been put on hold owing to what he called constitutional breaches.

He claimed that  a purported letter illegally signed by the Deputy National Secretary, Setonji Koshoedo inviting party members to the meeting was in violation of the party’s constitution which authorized the substantive National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu to act in that line of duty.

According to the statement, the national Secretary of PDP, Most Distinguished Senator Samuel Nnaemeka Anyanwu, is neither aware  nor directed the Deputy National Secretary to issue such notice, therefore remains a nullity.

“We therefore, urge and advise all state chairmen and esteemed members of NEC of our great party to disregard, any of such notice of invitation that does not emanate from the National Secretary himself, the Most Distinguished Senator Samuel Nnaemeka Anyanwu till further notice”

While relying on the provision of the constitution of PDP, he  said, “It is expedient to emphasize that, following section 36 (1)b, of the PDP constitution as amended in 2017, it is one of the core responsibilities/functions of the National Secretary and not the Deputy National Secretary to issue notice of NWC, NEC, CAUCUS and CONVENTION.”

“And all extant and relevant laws in the PDP constitution as amended in 2017, and the supreme court judgement, points to the fact that, Most Distinguished Senator Samuel Nnaemeka Anyanwu, as always, remains the National Secretary of PDP and in due time will issue the notice.”

He told  party leaders, members, and critical stakeholders that the meeting would not take place  as scheduled until issues affecting the party were resolved.

Northern leaders endorse Tinubu for 2027, back reforms in security, economy, governance

 The Northern Bridge Builders Forum, a coalition of respected leaders from the 19 northern states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), yesterday threw  its weight behind President Bola Tinubu’s administration and endorsed him for a second term in 2027. 

The forum commended his sweeping reforms in security, the economy, local government autonomy, and national unity.

 Speaking during a press conference at the Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja, the Convener of the forum, Senator Joel Danlami Ikenya, said the group, made up of eminent personalities from the three northern geopolitical zones, gathered to evaluate the impact of federal government policies on the region and the nation since President Tinubu assumed office on May 29, 2023.

 According to Senator Ikenya, who was flanked by his members, the Northern Bridge Builders Forum resolved to support the President’s reform agenda while also proposing key recommendations to address rising security concerns and economic pressures in the region.

 The forum acknowledged the administration’s strategic focus on national security, particularly in the northern states plagued by insurgents, bandits, and other criminal groups. 

It hailed the proposed establishment of Armed Forest Guards, now before the National Assembly, as a commendable move to combat insecurity in forested areas.

 However, the forum raised the  alarm over renewed deadly attacks in states like Borno, Zamfara, Benue, Plateau, Katsina, Sokoto, and Niger, warning that groups such as Boko Haram, ISWAP, and other criminal gangs appear to have regrouped and rearmed.

 “The resurgence of violence in our communities is alarming. The wanton destruction of lives, farms, and properties reinforces fears that terrorist groups are once again gaining ground,” Ikenya said. 

The forum praised President Tinubu’s economic reforms, describing them as bold and necessary.

 While acknowledging the hardship that followed the removal of fuel subsidy, they said the increased monthly allocations to states and repayment of Nigeria’s IMF debts were signs of economic progress.

They also lauded the President for stabilising the currency and attracting foreign investments, referencing praise from the British High Commissioner as evidence of growing international confidence in Nigeria’s economy.

“Though the economic reforms have caused some short-term pain, we believe they lay the foundation for a more prosperous and stable Nigeria.

One of the key highlights of the forum’s deliberations was support for the implementation of local government autonomy. 

They hailed the Tinubu administration’s efforts, especially its successful legal battles at the Supreme Court to uphold the constitutional rights of local governments to financial independence.

The forum urged state governors to comply fully with the implementation, which they said would fast-track grassroots development and bring governance closer to the people.

The Northern Bridge Builders Forum applauded the President’s inclusive leadership style and efforts in promoting national cohesion across ethnic and religious lines.

 They described Tinubu’s approach as tolerant and dialogue-driven, citing the appointments of Vice President Kashim Shettima and SGF George Akume as symbols of northern inclusion in national leadership.

“The North is well represented and has confidence in the team Mr. President has assembled,” Senator Ikenya added.

In their final communiqué, the forum urged Nigerians to be patient and continue supporting the Tinubu administration’s reform agenda. 

They resolved to consolidate and sustain recent security gains, particularly in the North; urge the National Assembly to expedite the passage of the Armed Forest Guards Bill; provide timely farming inputs to improve food productivity; and introduce short-term economic relief measures to cushion the current hardship.

The forum publicly endorsed President Tinubu for a second term, citing his “visionary leadership and courage in initiating necessary reforms.”

“In view of the efforts so far, the Northern Bridge Builders Forum unequivocally endorses Mr. President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, for a second term in 2027 to continue the good works he is doing,” Ikenya declared.

[pThe Nation]