Atiku Abubakar responds to PDP defections, defends political visits, and slams the Tinubu administration for national hardship.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has addressed the wave of defections from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), affirming his commitment to democratic principles and sharply criticising the Tinubu administration.
In a public statement, Atiku said he had received numerous inquiries regarding the latest defections and political shifts.
He maintained that freedom of association is a constitutional right and essential to democracy.
According to him, defections, alliances, and realignments are not new in politics and should not be a cause for alarm.
He dismissed criticisms over his recent visit to former President Muhammadu Buhari, describing the backlash as hypocritical.
Atiku stated that past opposition leaders also visited former presidents during political alignments.
He questioned why his own actions were being framed differently, saying: “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.”
Atiku stressed that the real issue facing the country is not party rivalry, but the economic hardship Nigerians are enduring under the Tinubu administration.
He accused the current government of failing in every area, from inflation and job losses to rising insecurity and public dissatisfaction.
“This moment is about collective survival,” Atiku said. “The real enemy is not one another — it is the Tinubu administration’s abysmal failure.”
He urged Nigerians to resist being divided by ethnicity, religion, or political sentiment, warning that these tactics are often used by failed governments to distract the people from real issues.
