- The rumours gathered momentum amid reports of Atiku’s chummy relationship with former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai.
The 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has reacted to claims of his purported imminent defection to the Social Democratic Party (SDP).
The former Vice President dismissed the speculation that he is planning to leave the PDP, describing the claims as misleading.
Atiku, who debunked the rumour through his special adviser on broadcast media, Abdulrasheed Shehu, said he has no plans to leave PDP for SDP.
In a post on X on Fridays, Shehu said: “Disregard the misinformation! Atiku Abubakar has neither joined nor is joining the SDP. This baseless speculation is a deliberate attempt to mislead,” Shehu wrote.
The rumours gathered momentum amid reports of Atiku’s chummy relationship with former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai.
Some sources suggested that both politicians, along with their allies, might be preparing to realign politically in response to ongoing challenges within their parties.
El-Rufai, who has recently fallen out of favour with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, openly criticised the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). He stated that if the APC has completely deviated from the founding principles that shaped it and he may consider leaving—but certainly not for the PDP.
This position has spurred speculation that the SDP could become a new political home for both Atiku and El-Rufai, especially as the PDP continues to struggle with internal leadership crises
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