Former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar refuted rumours that he had left the party. Atiku claimed that rumours that he had left the PDP were part of an attempt to mislead the coalition.
According to reports, Atiku is completing his plans to leave the PDP and join the Social Democratic Party, or SDP. On Saturday, however, Atiku’s media office maintained that the former vice president is a legitimate PDP member.
His media office issued the following statement: “We have noticed that certain news outlets are spreading unsubstantiated rumours that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar is leaving the Peoples Democratic Party.
“We would like to make it clear that the alleged rumour that Atiku had switched parties is a complete fabrication with no rational basis.” Abubakar emphasised that the PDP and all other opposition parties would be included in a coalition.
“Therefore, it is false and baseless to claim that the Waziri are jumping the PDP ship,” it continued. The goal of the grand coalition, which the former vice president is currently spearheading with other important national political figures, is completely at odds with such an accusation.
Therefore, we would like to make it clear that Atiku is still a key, legitimate member of the PDP, the main opposition party. In order to “confound Nigerians about the magnitude of the grand coalition that is at work to rescue Nigeria from the grip of the APC,” the statement emphasised that the defection claims were an attempt to do just that.
