Atiku, Lamido, David Mark, and Tambuwal, among other top political bigwigs have exited PDP for Coalition ADC ahead of 2027.
In a major political shake-up ahead of the 2027 general elections, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, ex-Senate President David Mark, and former Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido have reportedly left the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to align with a new opposition coalition under the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
The development was confirmed in a communiqué issued on Tuesday following a high-level strategy meeting of Concerned PDP Leaders in Abuja.
Also in attendance were former Governors Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto), Babangida Aliyu (Niger), Liyel Imoke (Cross River), and Sam Egwu (Ebonyi), alongside other senior stakeholders disillusioned by what they described as the PDP’s dwindling influence and internal instability.
The leaders accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of driving the country into crisis under President Bola Tinubu’s leadership.
“The APC government, which came into power on the back of false promises to rescue Nigeria from the PDP, has now become a monumental disaster. All indices of development have collapsed. Life is now hell in Nigeria,” the communiqué stated.
While condemning the APC’s performance, the defectors also expressed deep disappointment with the current state of the PDP, describing it as a “shadow of its former self.”
“The PDP, once a disciplined, capable and visionary platform, is now severely weakened. The pressure, blackmail and patronage from the APC-led Federal Government have forced many elected officials to abandon the party,” they added.
The defecting leaders said they are uniting under the ADC-led coalition to forge a new political direction for Nigeria and called on other well-meaning PDP members and patriotic Nigerians to join their movement.
This realignment signals a growing momentum among Nigeria’s fractured opposition to build a unified front against the APC in the lead-up to 2027. The ADC, recently repositioned with a new interim leadership including David Mark and Rauf Aregbesola, has emerged as the coalition’s political vehicle for the effort.