Atiku speaks on dumping PDP

Former Vice President and 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has dismissed reports suggesting he is planning to defect to the Social Democratic Party (SDP).

Atiku’s media aide, Abdulrasheed Shehu, debunked the claim in a post on X (formerly Twitter), describing it as false and misleading.

“Disregard the misinformation! Atiku Abubakar has neither joined nor is joining the SDP. This baseless speculation is a deliberate attempt to mislead,” Shehu wrote.

The rumors gained traction following reports of Atiku’s recent political engagements with former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai. Some sources had speculated that both politicians and their allies were considering alternative political platforms due to tensions in their respective parties.

El-Rufai has been at loggerheads with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration and has openly criticized the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). He recently hinted at the possibility of leaving the APC if the party deviates from its founding principles, but ruled out a return to the PDP.

With ongoing internal crises within the PDP, there had been speculation that the SDP might serve as a potential alternative for both Atiku and El-Rufai. However, Atiku’s camp has made it clear that he remains committed to the PDP and has no plans to leave.