PDP Is Nigeria’s Problems; It Has Lost Its Soul – Atiku

Former Vice-President, Atiku Abubakar, has finally opened up on the real reason he defected to the All Progressive Congress from the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

The Turakin Adama said he had always been interested in a people-oriented political party like the APC.

He said contrary to speculations, it did not matter to him who eventually emerged as the APC candidate in the 2015 presidential election.


The former VP told Punch that the removal of Bamanga Tukur and the appointment of Adamu Mu’azu as the PDP national chairman would not resolve the crisis tearing the ruling party apart.

He said, “The problems of the PDP are now national problems, beyond the capacity of one man. I tried as an individual to tackle it from within the fold, it did not work. “I am not ashamed to tell you that My APC idea is to stop the PDP from continuing to be Nigeria’s problem.”

Abubakar noted that his primary purpose of moving to the APC was not to pursue a personal ambition but to work with “like-minded persons” to provide Nigerians with the change they desired.

“The PDP is, today, a party of the establishment – the status quo. The APC is more people-oriented – a party of social democrats. And that is where I belong right from my Social Democratic Party days. I am pro-people,” Abubakar stated.

Abubakar stated that contrary to reports that he left the PDP, the ruling party abandoned him long ago.

He said, “When I was pushed out of the party (PDP) in 2006 and went back in 2009, the reason behind my action was to square up to the challenges of preserving the vision of the party.

“But, the reality is that the PDP has lost its soul. Those who call the shots now are not development-oriented and, therefore, uncomfortable with any progressive element and people-oriented ideas.”

It would be recalled that Abubakar had on February 2, 2014, while announcing his defection from the PDP to the APC, listed some of the grievances he had against the PDP to include the refusal of the leadership of the party to listen to his numerous complaints.
He said, “Sadly, the PDP continues to be beset with many crises, mostly leadership-induced crises.

“We have, therefore, concluded that the party (PDP) cannot be redeemed. In short, the PDP has abandoned Nigerians, the very people who gave it life and many electoral victories.

“It has since lost touch with Nigerians and efforts made by many well-meaning members and stakeholders to bring it back to the vision of its founders have been rebuffed.”

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