A campaigner for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Oladimeji Fabiyi, has stated that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar is more concerned with rescuing Nigeria from collapse than pursuing a personal ambition to return to power.

Fabiyi, who was a guest on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Wednesday, served as Director of Support Groups for the PDP Presidential Campaign Council in 2023. He said that despite rising tensions within the party over zoning and internal conflicts, Atiku remains focused on national redemption.

“Atiku is focusing on Nigeria, how to redeem and rescue Nigeria — and that is what the man is doing,” Fabiyi said. “He has never said ‘I am going to run.’ People are the ones saying he should come and run. He’s presently preoccupied with how we reclaim this country and make it better,” the campaigner stated.

The PDP chieftain added that Atiku — who served as vice president under President Olusegun Obasanjo from 1999 to 2007 and has contested for the presidency at least six times— is not involved in the ongoing internal drama plaguing the party.

“You see that he’s not even involving himself in all these shenanigans of the PDP anymore, and he’s still a member of the party. There is no way a single party can defeat an incumbent.

“That’s why Atiku is calling, because of his vision, saying, ‘Guys, let us come together as opposition parties’ — whether it is El-Rufai, Peter Obi or anybody — we are all in the opposition now and we need to rescue this Nigeria,” he said.

On criticisms that the septuagenarian should bow out due to his age, Fabiyi replied bluntly, “Age has nothing to do with this. Why should anybody say Atiku should not run? If you want to defeat Atiku, meet him on the field.”

Party Internal Crisis

However, the PDP director did not spare his party, accusing PDP leaders of failing to address core internal issues like the long-standing crisis involving former governor Nyesom Wike.

“The outcome of the NEC meeting fell short of the expectations of party members and Nigerians. They ran away from the real issues — the national secretary issue, Wike — these are the major problems,” he said.

Fabiyi said, “It is clear that PDP is not ready to lead the rescue mission for Nigeria. They are not even ready to challenge the dangerous plan of Tinubu to turn Nigeria into a one-party state. It is painful and disappointing.”

Questioning the party’s reluctance to discipline dissenting voices, he asked, “Why are they allowing one man to hold the party down? Why is it so difficult to discipline him?”

Fabiyi also dismissed the idea that zoning is the root of PDP’s crisis, noting that “zoning has never been the problem of the PDP. Since 1999, the PDP has gone into nine national elections — they should tell us when zoning was actually enforced.”

Struggling To Adhere Its Rules

Supporting this viewpoint on the breakfast show, political commentator Devoe Okorie argued that the PDP’s core challenge lies in its inability to adhere to its own rules.

He noted that zoning may not be the best route for leadership selection and also lamented the absence of a strong opposition.

“The PDP has elementary challenges. The issues are right in front of them. The major challenge is their inability, as a political organisation, to follow their own constitution.

“Democratic excellence should come from merit. Whoever is the candidate must have proven himself over time. If PDP wants to shift from zoning, they should amend the constitution — or follow the one they have,” Okorie said.

“Politics is not about logic — it’s about numbers and consensus. If the PDP continues to deceive itself, there is nothing we can do as a people. Nigeria is being robbed of a credible opposition.”

Both speakers agreed that without bold reform and strategic alliances, the PDP risks further weakening its standing as the nation’s main opposition — and losing the confidence of Nigerians altogether.

Atiku has in recent months initiated consultations aimed at forming a formidable opposition coalition ahead of 2027.

These consultations involving key political figures, including Peter Obi and Nasir El-Rufai, with whom he seeks to align against what he and others describe as a creeping “one-party state” under the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The PDP, meanwhile, has been embroiled in a deep internal crisis, largely triggered by the fallout from the 2023 elections. Recently, the PDP has experienced a wave of defections to the APC, particularly in the National Assembly and state structures.

Party figures such as Wike, now a minister under the APC-led federal government, continue to wield considerable influence within the PDP. (Channels TV)