The race for the 2027 presidential ticket within the Peoples Democratic Party is gaining momentum following the departure of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, with Governors Seyi Makinde of Oyo State and Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State emerging as key contenders.
According to sources within the party who spoke on condition of anonymity, the ambitions of both governors are well known among PDP stakeholders, particularly as the party begins to recalibrate its strategy ahead of the next general election.
A senior party figure told The Punch, “The party remains open to all qualified aspirants. The constitution provides a clear path for anyone seeking to contest for the presidential ticket.”
With the PDP’s 101st National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting scheduled for Thursday, July 24, zoning arrangements and plans for the national convention are expected to dominate the agenda. The question of whether to retain the presidential ticket in the North or return it to the South has already sparked considerable debate within party ranks.
Atiku, who was the PDP’s presidential candidate in both 2019 and 2023, formally resigned from the party on July 1, citing “irreconcilable differences” and a deviation from the founding ideals of the party.
In his resignation letter, he wrote: “It is with a heavy heart that I resign, recognising the irreconcilable differences that have emerged. As a founding father of this esteemed party, it is indeed heartbreaking for me to make this decision.”
“Serving two full terms as Vice President and being a Presidential candidate twice has been one of the most significant chapters of my life.”
His exit has reportedly unsettled the PDP, but some party insiders view it as an opportunity for a new generation of leaders to emerge.
“You see, the exit of Atiku Abubakar is going to bring calm to the party. You know, before now, his ambition has always been a threat to the ambition of others, even to the peace in the party,” a source said.
“Party leaders are always skeptical about how they resolve one or two issues so that they won’t play into his hands or into his favour. But now that he has left the party, I think it’s going to clear the path for others to pursue their ambition.
“I know that the likes of Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State, and other leaders of our party are aspiring to run on the party’s ticket for the 2027 election. But of course, popular among leaders of the party and other stakeholders within the party for now are Makinde and Bala Mohammed.
“We know that others will still come and aspire for the party’s ticket come 2027. As a matter of fact, the doors of the party are open to those who are willing to aspire for the ticket.
“PDP is a party for all Nigerians. It is a popular party with structure across all the local governments, the wards, and the states, a very formidable opposition. Forget the noise that the ADC is making. PDP still remains the major opposition party. We have governors. We have senators. We have elected assembly members and quite a lot more to offer Nigerians.”
Another party figure noted that Atiku’s repeated ambitions had caused persistent friction within the party and welcomed his departure as a turning point.
“I listened to many Nigerians talking about Atiku’s exit. They focus on just looking at the whole PDP as finished, the whole PDP as that. But the other positive side to it: would Atiku’s ambition, or has Atiku’s ambition been a source of problem for the PDP in the last, let’s say, eight years?”
“Of course, the ambition had caused crisis for in party. Recall in 2019, it was a tug-of-war within the party. And in 2023, you know, the five governors and quite a lot of others still did not support Atiku’s ambition and presidential ambition. Even though he emerged as a candidate, most of them still did not work for him. In fact, that was when Peter Obi also left the party.
“So, a man who, to a large extent, his ambition has always caused disaffection within the party, then decides to leave the party. So, it’s also a thing of joy for some of us that are members of the party now that he has left to pursue his ambition elsewhere. Then the party can sit up, sit together and resolve some of their issues. And then this will allow a new crop of leaders to emerge, new set of credible and competent leaders that we have in our party to declare their own interests and aspire for the party’s ticket.”
The formation of a new opposition coalition under the African Democratic Congress (ADC) by Atiku, Peter Obi, Nasir El-Rufai, Rotimi Amaechi, and others has shifted Nigeria’s political landscape. Former Senate President David Mark has been named interim National Chairman of the coalition, while former Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola will serve as interim National Secretary.
Despite this development, PDP loyalists remain confident in the party’s strength and appeal.
“Well, you are asking me who and who are interested in the party ticket so far. Well, even though they have not come out publicly to declare their interest, we have been hearing among us, the leaders of the party, that the likes of Makinde and then Bala Mohammed and even some former governors from the South are interested in aspiring for the party’s ticket for the 2027 presidential election,” another party insider stated.
“But it is, of course, too early, because we know with time more people will declare, and then more will still join the party and aspire for the party ticket. So the PDP is open to all, and it is the party that is very popular among Nigerians.”
