Sources within the PDP say Atiku’s ambition had created internal divisions, and his exit now provides space for new aspirants.
With former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s departure from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the race for the party’s 2027 presidential ticket has officially begun, The PUNCH reports.
Party insiders confirmed that Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde and Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed are among the frontrunners, as discussions on zoning and consensus top the agenda for the party’s upcoming 101st National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting scheduled for July 24.
Atiku, in a letter announcing his resignation, wrote, “It is with a heavy heart that I resign, recognizing the irreconcilable differences that have emerged.”
Sources within the PDP say Atiku’s ambition had created internal divisions, and his exit now provides space for new aspirants. A youth group, Bala Mohammed Vanguard, confirmed the governor would contest in 2027.
While some members advocate for zoning the ticket to the South, others push for an open contest. Former BoT Chairman Bode George said, “That process of getting a southerner as presidential flagbearer of the party is on.”
Meanwhile, the ruling APC dismissed the contenders as “regional players” and predicted defeat for the PDP in 2027.