Atiku to PDP members: We need to regain our eminent position in politics

Atiku Abubakar, former vice-president, says the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) needs to regain its “eminent position” in politics.

The PDP presidential candidate spoke on Thursday at an event organised for the party’s governors-elect and outgoing governors in Abuja.

Abubakar expressed worries that the PDP which was a dominant political party is “receding”.

“We have a number of challenges. We started as a dominant political party in 1999 and since then have been receding,” he said.

“I think it is time for us to take stock and find out why we are receding and how can we make sure that our eminent position as the leading political party in this country, as the oldest political party in this country, we regain our position.

“This is a very important challenge which I think requires a whole day seminar for us as a party to ensure that we regain our eminent position in the politics of this country and the whole of Africa.”

Abubakar congratulated the PDP governors-elect and asked them to be united and loyal to the party.

The PDP was in power from 1999 to 2015.

Abubakar, who contested the 2023 elections on the PDP platform, lost to Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Also speaking, Nnamani Sambo, former vice-president, advised the party’s leadership to address the arbitrary suspension of members.

He said it was unfortunate that some party members were being suspended without giving a fair hearing.

“I will seize this opportunity to publicly call on the acting national chairman to look into what is happening in Kaduna state because all the ingredients for trouble and problems in the party are being put in place,” he said.

“So likewise in other states, I will use this opportunity to call on all party members to cooperate to let the party continue.”

Aminu Tambuwal, governor of Sokoto and chairperson of the PDP Governors Forum, said the party’s legacy must be sustained.

“I’m happy to bequeath to you and indeed the members of this forum, a forum that is strong, cohesive and vocal in the defence of democracy and good governance in the country,” Tambuwal said.

“With the calibre of governors-elect, I see here today, I can say confidently the forum is going to be in good hands.”