2027 Election Will Be Nigerians vs Tinubu’s Government – Atiku Speaks on PDP Defections

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has said the 2027 presidential election will not be a contest between political parties, but a direct confrontation between Nigerians and the current administration led by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Atiku made this declaration in a statement released on Friday, addressing the recent wave of defections from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

The comments follow the high-profile defections of Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and former PDP vice-presidential candidate Ifeanyi Okowa, both of whom announced their switch to the APC earlier this week. While acknowledging that defection is a natural part of democratic politics, Atiku emphasized that the core of democracy lies in the people’s rights and accountability.

“Freedom of association and expression are not optional in a democracy — they are fundamental rights,” he stated. “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.”

Atiku said he holds no ill will toward those who have chosen to align with other parties, pointing out that political realignments are neither new nor unexpected. He also addressed recent criticism over his visit to former President Muhammadu Buhari, urging Nigerians to focus on unity rather than political distractions.

“Let’s not rewrite history: Buhari is not only a former leader but a significant statesman in the Nigerian political landscape,” he said. “During the 2013 opposition merger, leaders visited Obasanjo and Babangida. So why is it now a problem for me to visit Buhari in Kaduna?”

The former Vice President stressed that the real challenge ahead is not a partisan battle but a national reckoning with what he described as the failure of the Tinubu-led government. According to Atiku, rising inflation, economic collapse, mass unemployment, and growing youth unrest have left the country in crisis.

“This moment is about collective survival,” he said. “The real enemy is not one another — it is the Tinubu administration’s abysmal failure. We must reject every attempt to distract us with ethnic, regional, or religious sentiments. These are tools of manipulation, used by those with nothing else to offer.”

Atiku called on Nigerians to unite, framing the upcoming election as a decisive stand by citizens against a government he accuses of worsening their suffering.