PDP Governors dump Atiku, strike deal with Tinubu Ahead of 2027

PDP Governors dump Atiku, strike deal with Tinubu Ahead of 2027

 

 

As President Bola Ahmed Tinubu intensifies efforts to consolidate power ahead of the 2027 general elections, fresh revelations indicate that he has entered into a covert political arrangement with some first-term governors of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), a development that is reportedly fueling ongoing unrest within the party.

 

According to insider sources, the agreement—described as a “gentleman’s pact”—does not require the PDP governors to defect to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

 

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Instead, they are expected to lend covert support to Tinubu’s re-election bid in return for presidential backing in their respective re-election campaigns.

 

“The pact is such that Mr. President will get the support of the governors without necessarily defecting to the APC. They will help to deliver the president in their various states, while the president would, in turn, provide support for them to win their re-election,” a source close to the negotiations told Daily Sun.

 

Hints of the deal came to light when Akwa Ibom State Governor Umo Eno publicly declared his support for Tinubu, saying: “As for me, I’m supporting Baba Bola Ahmed Tinubu for a second term. When the time comes, I’ll tell you why. The time hasn’t come yet. But when it does, you’ll understand.”

 

The revelations have further deepened the cracks within the PDP, already reeling from internal leadership tussles and ideological divisions. Prominent among the realignments is former Rivers State Governor and current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, whose open alliance with Tinubu has galvanized other party members to shift loyalty.

 

“Wike may not be in good terms with Bala Mohammed (Bauchi Governor) now, but they’ll unite behind Tinubu, especially if Atiku picks the PDP ticket again,” another source revealed. “I can tell you that the governors of Plateau, Adamawa, and Oyo are also leaning toward this arrangement.”

 

This budding coalition is being interpreted by political watchers as a strategic move by Tinubu to neutralize the opposition from within. Analysts believe this kind of cross-party handshake could shape the dynamics of the 2027 race.

 

Sources within the PDP say one governor may be left out of the arrangement due to what they describe as a “weird personality” and complex local politics in his state.

 

Despite denials from APC leadership dismissing these claims as “speculation,” the growing list of defections to the ruling party, especially among federal lawmakers, suggests a strategic realignment ahead of the 2027 polls.

 

Historically, no political party has won a presidential election in Nigeria since 2003 without significant defections and last-minute alliances. In 2015, the APC’s rise to power was catalyzed by high-profile defections from the PDP, including the then-Speaker of the House of Representatives. Conversely, the 2019 elections saw APC lose key figures, including the Senate President.

 

As Tinubu’s camp quietly solidifies this emerging alliance with PDP governors, observers say the PDP faces an uphill task if it is to maintain unity and mount a credible challenge in 2027.

 

“The PDP may not be a stumbling block to Tinubu’s re-election,” said one source. “It’s a classic ‘you rub my back, I rub yours’ arrangement—and it’s already in motion.”