In a significant political development, members of the Atiku Abubakar Support Groups, who previously backed the former vice president in the 2023 elections, have defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC). The defection was officially welcomed by Abdullahi Ganduje, the national chairman of the APC, during a gathering in Abuja on Friday.
Ganduje took the opportunity to criticize the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), referring to it as a “dying party” and highlighting its diminishing influence in Nigerian politics. He specifically mocked the PDP’s internal strife, claiming that no aspirant has expressed interest in running for the upcoming Anambra governorship election under the party’s banner.
“You are welcome to our party,” Ganduje declared to the defectors, further announcing that, after the fasting period, all members would gather in Abuja for a formal reception. The event will include key figures, such as the President, Vice President, Senate President, and Speaker of the House of Representatives, to officially mark the decline of the PDP in Nigeria’s political arena.
Ganduje also referenced a trending video, stating that the PDP had extended its screening deadline for the Anambra governorship election, only for the deadline to pass without any candidates stepping forward. “The extension has expired, and no one has shown up. It is a crumbling party,” Ganduje remarked, underscoring the weakening of the opposition.
Emphasizing the strength of the APC, Ganduje reaffirmed that the party remains Nigeria’s most robust political force, committed to upholding internal democracy, the rule of law, and peaceful governance. He further pointed out that the APC is the “most peaceful party in Nigeria” and the “most peaceful party in Africa.”
The defection of Atiku’s support groups is seen as a blow to the PDP’s hopes for regaining political relevance in the upcoming elections. With the continued decline of the PDP, the APC is positioning itself as the dominant political entity in Nigeria.
