The race for the 2027 presidential ticket is heating up with the exit of former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), as Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, and Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, emerge as front-runners in the party’s internal jostle to challenge President Bola Tinubu.
Party insiders who spoke with Punch on condition of anonymity said the presidential ambitions of both Makinde and Bala are widely known within PDP circles, even as the party considers the next steps following Atiku’s dramatic defection.
A senior party official told Punch, “The party remains open to all qualified aspirants. The constitution provides a clear path for anyone seeking to contest for the presidential ticket.”
As the PDP’s 101st National Executive Committee meeting draws near, scheduled for Thursday, July 24, zoning and plans for the party’s national convention are expected to dominate discussions.
The matter has already sparked internal debate, with some NEC members split over whether to retain or rotate the presidential ticket between the North and South.
Naijaonpoint recalls that Atiku Abubakar, PDP’s presidential flagbearer in 2019 and 2023, resigned from the party on July 1, citing “irreconcilable differences” and the party’s “current trajectory” which he said had strayed from its founding principles.
Atiku, in his resignation letter, wrote, “It is with a heavy heart that I resign, recognising the irreconcilable differences that have emerged.
“As a founding father of this esteemed party, it is indeed heartbreaking for me to make this decision.
“Serving two full terms as Vice President and being a Presidential candidate twice has been one of the most significant chapters of my life.”
Sources say Atiku’s exit has not only destabilised the PDP but also emboldened other presidential hopefuls who had long felt constrained by his influence within the party.
On the heels of his resignation, Atiku joined forces with several opposition heavyweights, including Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, former APC presidential aspirant, Rotimi Amaechi, and others, to float a joint political platform under the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
Former Senate President, David Mark, has been named interim National Chairman of the coalition, while former Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola, was appointed interim National Secretary, signalling the formation of a broad-based alliance aimed at dislodging the APC in 2027.
A source stated, “You see, the exit of Atiku Abubakar is going to bring calm to the party. You know, before now, his ambition has always been a threat to the ambition of others, even to the peace in the party.
“Party leaders are always skeptical about how they resolve one or two issues so that they won’t play into his hands or into his favour. But now that he has left the party, I think it’s going to clear the path for others to pursue their ambition.
“I know that the likes of Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State, and other leaders of our party are aspiring to run on the party’s ticket for the 2027 election. But of course, popular among leaders of the party and other stakeholders within the party for now are Makinde and Bala Mohammed.
“We know that others will still come and aspire for the party’s ticket come 2027. As a matter of fact, the doors of the party are open to those who are willing to aspire for the ticket.
“PDP is a party for all Nigerians. It is a popular party with structure across all the local governments, the wards, and the states, a very formidable opposition. Forget the noise that the ADC is making. PDP still remains the major opposition party. We have governors. We have senators. We have elected assembly members and quite a lot more to offer Nigerians.”
Another source stated that Atiku’s presidential ambition has consistently caused turmoil within the PDP, adding that his departure would create room for fresh and capable individuals to pursue their aspirations.
He stated, “I listened to many Nigerians talking about Atiku’s exit. They focus on just looking at the whole PDP as finished, the whole PDP as that. But the other positive side to it: would Atiku’s ambition, or has Atiku’s ambition been a source of problem for the PDP in the last, let’s say, eight years?
“Of course, the ambition had caused crisis for in party. Recall in 2019, it was a tug-of-war within the party. And in 2023, you know, the five governors and quite a lot of others still did not support Atiku’s ambition and presidential ambition. Even though he emerged as a candidate, most of them still did not work for him. In fact, that was when Peter Obi also left the party.
“So, a man who, to a large extent, his ambition has always caused disaffection within the party, then decides to leave the party. So, it’s also a thing of joy for some of us that are members of the party now that he has left to pursue his ambition elsewhere. Then the party can sit up, sit together and resolve some of their issues. And then this will allow a new crop of leaders to emerge, new set of credible and competent leaders that we have in our party to declare their own interests and aspire for the party’s ticket.”
A source identified Makinde and Bala Mohammed as potential aspirants, stating that more Nigerians will follow.
The source stated, “Well, you are asking me who and who are interested in the party ticket so far. Well, even though they have not come out publicly to declare their interest, we have been hearing among us, the leaders of the party, that the likes of Makinde and then Bala Mohammed and even some former governors from the South are interested in aspiring for the party’s ticket for the 2027 presidential election.
“But it is, of course, too early, because we know with time more people will declare, and then more will still join the party and aspire for the party ticket. So the PDP is open to all, and it is the party that is very popular among Nigerians.”