Abuja, Nigeria – 1 July 2025 – Former Vice President and 2023 Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has described a recent gathering of the Concerned Leaders of the PDP as a “fruitful meeting,” sparking widespread speculation about the future direction of the party and its key figures. The closed-door summit, held at the Transcorp Hilton in Abuja, included prominent PDP heavyweights such as David Mark, Uche Secondus, and Sule Lamido, and focused on strategies to challenge President Bola Tinubu’s All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 general elections.
Sources close to the meeting suggest that the Concerned Leaders represent a faction within the PDP contemplating a significant breakaway. Political observers speculate that this group may be poised to form a new coalition with other opposition figures, including former APC stalwarts Nasir El-Rufai and Abubakar Malami, as well as Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi. The coalition is rumoured to be eyeing the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as its political platform for the 2027 elections.
The discussions in Abuja centred on whether the Concerned Leaders should fully merge into a new opposition coalition or remain within the PDP while forming an electoral pact with other parties. “The meeting was productive, and a decision will be taken soon,” a source familiar with the proceedings told reporters, echoing sentiments shared in posts on X.
Speculation about a PDP splinter group joining forces with El-Rufai, Malami, and Obi has been fuelled by earlier reports of coalition talks. In May 2025, Bloomberg reported that Atiku, Obi, and El-Rufai had concluded months of discussions about uniting under the ADC banner, though no official confirmation has been made. The ADC, led by National Chairman Chief Nwosu, has confirmed approaches from several politicians but remains tight-lipped about specific negotiations, stating that its 2027 flagbearer will emerge through a national convention and primary election.
The potential coalition has stirred debate, particularly given the historical tensions between Atiku and Obi, who ran as running mate and presidential candidate, respectively, under the PDP in 2019 but parted ways for the 2023 elections. Recent reports of a proposed joint ticket, with Atiku offering Obi the vice-presidential slot in a one-term deal, were dismissed by both camps as “baseless fabrications.” Obi, in particular, has emphasised his focus on addressing Nigeria’s socio-economic challenges, stating, “I am in a coalition against hunger, poverty, and ill health. Politics for me is not about position; it is about doing the right thing.”
Analysts suggest that a breakaway faction led by Atiku could reshape Nigeria’s political landscape, especially if it attracts high-profile defectors from the APC, such as El-Rufai and Malami, who are reportedly aligning with the ADC alongside former members of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC). However, the move carries risks, as the PDP’s support base, particularly in the South-East, remains wary of Atiku following the fallout from the 2023 elections, where Obi’s Labour Party significantly eroded PDP’s influence in the region.
As Nigeria approaches the 2027 elections, the outcome of the Concerned Leaders’ deliberations could signal a major realignment in opposition politics.
