The 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has warned Nigerians against all forms of distractions, including ethnic and religious sentiments, ahead of the 2027 elections, stating that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is the ‘real enemy’.
Atiku emphasised the importance of freedom of association in a democratic society, noting that it is the fundamental right of any individual.
His remarks come on the heels of the defection of Delta State Governor, Mr. Sheriff Oborevwori, the immediate past governor, Mr. Ifeanyi Okowa, and other members of the PDP in the state to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Recall that Okowa was the running mate to Atiku Abubakar in the 2023 election.
Reacting to the development in a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Friday, Atiku affirmed that he harbours no grudge against anyone for their political shift or ideology.
He wrote: “I have been overwhelmed with inquiries from concerned Nigerians, all eager to understand my position on the latest political shifts, particularly the defection of some PDP members to the ruling party.
“Let me be unequivocal: freedom of association and expression are not optional in a democracy — they are fundamental rights. Alongside these stand the pillars of a just and functional democratic society: the people, the rule of law, credible elections, and accountability. Undermine any of these, and democracy itself begins to crumble.
“As someone who holds fast to these values, I bear no grudges against anyone for exercising their right to political alignment. Defections, alliances, and realignments are part and parcel of democratic politics. We’ve seen them before, and we’ll see them again. Some have resorted to insults because I visited former President Muhammadu Buhari. Let’s not rewrite history: Buhari is not only a former leader but a significant statesman in the Nigerian political landscape.”
The former Vice President recounted that during the 2013 opposition merger, the leaders of the time consulted widely, including visits to Chief Olusegun Obasanjo and Gen. Ibrahim Babangida.
“So why is it now sacrilegious for me and other leaders to visit Buhari in Kaduna?,” he asked, stressing that anyone who truly believes in freedom of association must respect the rights of all political actors to engage, regardless of party lines.
Atiku continued: “When PDP leaders are busy sipping tea and brokering power deals with President Tinubu, it’s called strategic alliance. But the moment I greet Peter Obi, el-Rufai, or visit Buhari, it becomes a national emergency. Hypocrisy and the politics of selective outrage have never been this fashionable!
“Let us be clear: the coming political battle is not APC versus PDP, or LP versus APC. It is Nigerians versus an administration that has plunged the nation into untold suffering. The economy is in freefall. Inflation is choking the masses. Jobs are vanishing. Youth restiveness is surging to terrifying levels. Nigerians are not just tired — they are angry, and rightfully so.
“This moment is about collective survival. The real enemy is not one another — it is the Tinubu administration’s abysmal failure. We must reject every attempt to distract us with ethnic, regional, or religious sentiments. These are tools of manipulation, designed to divide and conquer, used by those with nothing else to offer.”
The politician asserted that President Tinubu’s administration has no achievements to stand on, no credible record to defend, adding that his only strategy is chaos and division, because that is the last refuge of the incompetent.
He further stated: “And make no mistake— an incompetent captain does not only wreck his ship; he endangers the lives of everyone on board.”
