The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors’ Forum has firmly dismissed the emerging political coalition involving former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, ex-Kaduna Governor Nasir El-Rufai, and Labour Party’s Peter Obi, declaring the party’s resolve to go it alone in the 2027 elections. The opposition governors, after a crucial meeting in Ibadan, Oyo State, unanimously rejected any merger talks while leaving the door open for other parties to join the PDP in its quest to unseat the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
In a communique read by Forum Chairman and Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed, the PDP leadership stated: “Noting nationwide speculations about possible mergers, the Forum resolved that the PDP will not join any coalition but welcomes parties or groups willing to join us to rescue Nigeria.” The position comes amid intensified efforts by Atiku, El-Rufai (now of the Social Democratic Party), and Obi to build a grand opposition alliance, including their recent high-profile visit to former President Muhammadu Buhari.
The governors threw their weight behind Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara, vowing to challenge the state’s emergency rule at the Supreme Court to prevent what they termed “the rape of constitutional democracy.” They expressed alarm over worsening insecurity in Borno, Plateau, Katsina, and Edo states, advocating for decentralized security strategies where subnational governments play frontline roles.
On internal party matters, the Forum announced plans for a National Executive Committee meeting on May 27 to address zoning of party offices, followed by an early national convention scheduled for August 28-30 in Kano. Key committees were proposed, with Bayelsa’s Douye Diri chairing the zoning committee and Adamawa’s Ahmadu Fintiri leading the convention planning team.
Notably absent was the embattled Rivers governor, Fubara, as eleven PDP governors and deputy governors representing Delta and Akwa Ibom attended the closed-door deliberations at Oyo State Government House. The meeting’s resolutions signal the PDP’s strategy to consolidate its structures rather than dilute its identity through alliances, setting the stage for a contentious political season ahead of 2027.
