Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former President of the Senate David Mark met with other leaders in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) under the aegis of “Concerned leaders of the PDP” seeking their buy-in the coalition agenda.
Recall that Atiku has been involved in mega coalition talks with politicians of similar interest across party lines, seeking to form a formidable force that will unseat President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027.
David Mark is also the arrow head in the registration of a new political party, All Democratic Alliance (ADA) which is presently seeking registration with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Both leaders, who are members of the PDP have been absent from National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting and other critical discussions going on in the main opposition party. They have also not shown any interest in resolving the leadership crisis that is threatening the PDP.
However, Atiku, Mark went into a four-hour close door meeting with some PDP stakeholders on Tuesday at Transcorp Hilton, Abuja on Tuesday.
In a communique issued at the end of the meeting, which was read by Mark, they meeting encouraged all well-meaning PDP Members and other patriotic Nigerians to join the coalition.
He said, “all coalition partners must be united on the issues of national unity, democracy, national security, national economy, and the political will to stamp out corruption embedded in our institutions.
“The coalition partners to work out the modalities of winning all elections taking into consideration local and national peculiarities”.
The former Senate President lamented that since PDP lost the last presidential election, and the exit of Dr. Iyorchia Ayu as National Chairman, the Party has never been the same again.
“Vested interests from within and the irresponsible actions of the APC led federal government which has been using state Institutions to stifle and destroy the Democracy knows no bounds!
“The inability of PDP leadership to lead the Party by its Constitution, rules and regulations led it into a chaotic and undisciplined Party!
“The vision of the founding Fathers for which the Party was established and the role it played in restoring Nigeria as stable and united country and key player on the regional, continental, and global stage has been washed away just as our roles as the leader of the black race is now overtaken by smaller and less endowed countries.
“Painfully, Nigeria is now a diminished country and an embarrassment on the world stage!”
He further said that the meeting took time to deliberate deeply on the issues of democracy, national unity, national security, economy, corruption, governance, and other concerns plaguing the country and resolved to work together to win the next general election.
Present at the meeting were former governor of Sokoto state Aminu Tambuwal, former PDP Chairman Uche Secondus, Sen. Tunde Ogbeha, Liyel Imoke (Cross River), Babangida Aliyu (Niger), Gabriel Suswam (Benue) and Sam Egwu (Ebonyi).
Other PDP figures in attendance include Senator Ben Obi, former PDP National Women Leader Josephine Anenih, former National Organising Secretary Senator Austin Akobundu, ex-National Publicity Secretary Kola Ologbondiyan, and former National Youth Leader Abdullahi Maibasira, among others.
