Atiku’s departure won’t cripple PDP – Chieftain

A prominent member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Lagos State, Prince Laja Adeoye, has stated that the recent exit of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar will not spell doom for the party, expressing confidence that the PDP will emerge stronger ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Adeoye, who is a House of Representatives aspirant for Oshodi-Isolo Federal Constituency, made this known during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Lagos.

His comments came in response to Atiku’s announcement on Wednesday that he was leaving the PDP.

The former presidential candidate, who contested under the party in 2019 and 2023, cited deep-rooted internal crises as his reason for quitting.

Although Atiku is yet to officially join another party, he has been linked to the African Democratic Congress (ADC), a party recently adopted by a coalition of opposition figures reportedly led by him, as their political platform for the 2027 elections.

Reacting to the development, Adeoye said Atiku’s departure might actually foster peace and stability within the PDP, claiming that the former vice president’s persistent presidential ambitions had been a major source of internal discord.

“The PDP will not collapse because one individual decided to leave,” Adeoye said.

“This is not the first time Atiku has left the party, and yet, the PDP has continued to stand strong.”

He added that the PDP was undergoing a rebuilding process and would be in a stronger position by the next election cycle.

“Many of those running to ADC will eventually return to the PDP once they realise that the new alliance offers no real path forward, including Atiku himself,” he stated confidently.

While expressing support for the idea of political coalitions, Adeoye insisted that any meaningful alliance must be led by the PDP, which he described as the largest political party in Africa.

“Any coalition that doesn’t have the PDP at the helm is a futile exercise,” he said.