Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of exploiting divisions within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) by working with some of its senior members to weaken the opposition.
In an interview with BBC Hausa, Atiku said the lingering crisis in the PDP persisted because certain leaders of the party were allegedly being used by the APC-led government to fuel disunity.
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“Some senior members of the party were allegedly being used by the government to further destabilise the party, and we could see that in their actions and utterances,” Atiku said.
Atiku on PDP Leadership
He explained that he lacked the authority to take decisive action on the crisis because he did not hold any official leadership position within the PDP.
“I was an influential person in PDP, but I couldn’t fix it because I was not the chairman or secretary. I have called them and sat with them to have dialogue. Sadly, the people occupying those positions have different interests that are mostly personal to them,” he stated.
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Atiku maintained that he should not be blamed for failing to resolve the crisis.
“If I had the chance to fix it and didn’t, that’s when one could say I failed,” he added.
Move to ADC
The former vice president revealed that he and other stakeholders in the African Democratic Congress (ADC) were working to build strong political structures and ensure the party gains national acceptance.
When asked if he would contest the presidency under the ADC platform in 2027, Atiku replied, “When the time comes, we shall see.”
Nigeria at 65
Reflecting on Nigeria’s 65th Independence anniversary, Atiku acknowledged progress in areas such as education, transportation, and road infrastructure but said the country remains far from its desired destination.
Rafiyat Sadiq is a political, justice, and human rights reporter with Pinnacle Daily, known for fearless reporting and impactful storytelling. At Pinnacle Daily, she brings clarity and depth to issues shaping governance, democracy, and the protection of citizens’ rights.
