By John Ogunsemore
The 2023 presidential candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar said he bears no grudges against his running mate, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa and others that recently defected from the party to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The former Vice President added that the recent wave of defections that hit PDP is freedom of association and expression in action.
Atiku stated this in a statement issued on Friday.
On Wednesday, Okowa and Delta Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori quit the PDP and joined the APC.
A member of the House of Representatives from Osun State, Hon. Wole Oke also quit the PDP to join the APC.
Reacting to the development, Atiku said, “Let me be unequivocal: freedom of association and expression are not optional in a democracy — they are fundamental rights.
“Alongside these stand the pillars of a just and functional democratic society: the people, the rule of law, credible elections, and accountability.
“Undermine any of these, and democracy itself begins to crumble.
“As someone who holds fast to these values, I bear no grudges against anyone for exercising their right to political alignment. Defections, alliances, and realignments are part and parcel of democratic politics. We’ve seen them before, and we’ll see them again.”
Atiku disclosed that he has been insulted over his recent visit to former President Muhammadu Buhari.
He queried why he should be villified for the visit while PDP governors freely form alliances with President Bola Tinubu.
He said, “Let’s not rewrite history: Buhari is not only a former leader but a significant statesman in the Nigerian political landscape. During the 2013 opposition merger, the leaders of the time consulted widely — including visits to Obasanjo and Babangida. So why is it now sacrilegious for me and other leaders to visit Buhari in Kaduna? If you truly believe in freedom of association, then you must respect the rights of all political actors to engage, regardless of party lines.
“When PDP leaders are busy sipping tea and brokering power deals with President Tinubu, it’s called strategic alliance. But the moment I greet Peter Obi, el-Rufai, or visit Buhari, it becomes a national emergency. Hypocrisy and the politics of selective outrage have never been this fashionable!”
He maintained that the “coming political battle” is not APC versus PDP, or LP versus APC.
He added, “It is Nigerians versus an administration that has plunged the nation into untold suffering. The economy is in freefall. Inflation is choking the masses. Jobs are vanishing. Youth restiveness is surging to terrifying levels. Nigerians are not just tired — they are angry, and rightfully so.”
He maintained that the 2027 election is about collective survival, stressing that the “real enemy is not one another — it is the Tinubu administration’s abysmal failure”.
He said, “We must reject every attempt to distract us with ethnic, regional, or religious sentiments.
“These are tools of manipulation, designed to divide and conquer, used by those with nothing else to offer.
“The Tinubu administration has no achievements to stand on, no credible record to defend. Its only strategy is chaos and division, because that’s the last refuge of the incompetent. And make no mistake— an incompetent captain does not only wreck his ship; he endangers the lives of everyone on board.”