Atiku’s Exit Won’t Break PDP – Lagos Party Chieftain

Jul 18, 2025

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A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Lagos State, Prince Laja Adeoye, has dismissed concerns that the defection of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar could destabilize the party, insisting the PDP will rebound stronger ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Adeoye, a House of Representatives aspirant for Oshodi-Isolo Federal Constituency, made the remarks during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Lagos, shortly after Atiku confirmed his exit from the PDP earlier in the week.

Atiku, who flew the party’s flag in the 2019 and 2023 presidential elections, attributed his decision to deep-seated internal crises within the PDP. While he has not formally declared allegiance to another party, he has been linked to the African Democratic Congress (ADC), which was recently adopted by a coalition of opposition figures reportedly under his leadership as a potential platform for 2027.

Reacting to the development, Adeoye said Atiku’s departure may, in fact, pave the way for renewed unity and calm within the PDP, claiming that the former vice president’s unrelenting presidential bids had contributed to divisions in the party.

“The PDP is bigger than any individual,” Adeoye said. “This is not the first time Atiku has left, and the party has always survived. We will not only survive—PDP will come out stronger.”

He also expressed confidence that many politicians currently gravitating toward the ADC would eventually return to the PDP, including Atiku, once they realize the limitations of the new coalition.

Speaking on the broader political realignment ahead of 2027, Adeoye acknowledged the importance of coalition-building but stressed that the PDP must lead any serious alliance.

“Without PDP at the centre of any coalition, it’s a waste of time,” he said. “We remain the largest and most experienced political party in Africa.”

Adeoye noted that the PDP is currently undergoing internal restructuring and assured that the party will be fully repositioned in time for the next general elections.