2027: PDP Will Bounce Back Stronger Without Atiku, Okowa – Abba Moro

Senate Minority Leader Abba Moro has expressed confidence that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will recover and emerge stronger, despite the recent defection of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and his 2023 running mate, Ifeanyi Okowa.

Speaking on Sunday Politics, a Channels Television programme, Moro, who represents Benue South Senatorial District, dismissed the significance of their exit, describing it as “good riddance to bad rubbish.” He blamed both Atiku and Okowa for contributing to the internal divisions that weakened the party after its loss in the 2023 presidential election.

“Their actions led to post-election disunity and undermined the PDP’s structure,” he said, while maintaining that the party still has the capacity to reorganize and present a formidable challenge in future elections.

Moro called on remaining PDP members to focus on rebuilding the party rather than being distracted by recent defections.

Addressing the broader political landscape, the senator reaffirmed the importance of Nigeria’s informal North-South power rotation agreement. He cautioned against fielding another northern candidate in 2027, saying the electorate had already rejected such an arrangement in the last election.

“The idea of a northern successor to another northern president was not accepted in 2023, and it won’t be in 2027,” he stated, referencing the PDP’s controversial decision to field Atiku following Muhammadu Buhari’s two-term presidency.

Meanwhile, a new opposition coalition is reportedly forming, with prominent political figures—including Atiku, Peter Obi, David Mark, Rauf Aregbesola, Rotimi Amaechi, and Nasir El-Rufai—rallying around the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as a potential platform to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2027.

Despite this realignment, Moro remains hopeful that the PDP will regain its influence and remain a key player in the nation’s political future.