Aide Breaks Silence: Atiku Won’t Leave PDP But Will Lead Opposition Alliance

Paul Ibe, the media adviser to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, has clarified that his principal does not need to leave the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in order to support the emerging opposition coalition ahead of the 2027 elections.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

He pointed to the example of Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), who has remained in the PDP while actively working with the APC-led administration of President Bola Tinubu.

Ibe made these remarks during an interview on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Wednesday.

He described the current Tinubu-led government as a civilian dictatorship—arguing that it is even more dangerous than previous military regimes in Nigeria’s history.

“Atiku Abubakar and other notable opposition leaders are once again being called upon to rescue the country from a civilian dictatorship,” Ibe stated. “What we’re seeing now is worse than what happened under military rule. These current leaders may wear agbada and suits, but their actions are no different—perhaps even more repressive.”

On the possibility of Atiku becoming the coalition’s consensus candidate in 2027, Ibe said discussions have not reached that point. According to him, the immediate goal of the coalition is to unite and strategize, not to focus on individual candidacies.

He also refuted claims that Atiku caused the PDP crisis by violating the party’s zoning principles during the 2023 primaries.

Ibe argued that Wike lost a fair contest to Atiku and subsequently chose to work against the PDP, while also accusing him of blocking genuine efforts to resolve the party’s internal issues.