PDP’s Fielding Of Atiku In 2023 An Error, Says Abba Moro

The Senate Minority Leader, Senator Abba Moro, has admitted that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) made a strategic blunder by fielding former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as its presidential candidate in the 2023 general elections. Speaking on Politics Today, a political affairs programme on Channels Television, Moro described the party’s decision as a costly miscalculation.

According to him, the outcome of the election, in which Atiku lost to the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, was a clear verdict from the Nigerian electorate. “As a result of how the election turned out and because the Nigerian people spoke, definitely, it [fielding Atiku] was an error,” he said. He added that the scale of the loss was too significant to ignore.

Moro stressed that the PDP ought to have fielded a more unifying and strategically positioned candidate, warning that ignoring such lessons could spell doom for the party in 2027.

Atiku’s Exit and the PDP’s Uncertain Future

Atiku, who has contested the presidency five times under different platforms, has since left the PDP after the 2023 defeat. Nearly two years on, he has not publicly declared a new political affiliation, leaving speculation rife about his next move.

Moro’s remarks underline growing frustration within the PDP over Atiku’s candidacy and the divisions it caused. For many within the party, Atiku’s inability to galvanize broad support across regions and his long history of political defections weakened the PDP’s chances against a ruling APC that consolidated power around Tinubu.

With Atiku out of the party, the PDP faces a leadership vacuum and must urgently reposition itself to avoid another disappointing outing in 2027. Party insiders are increasingly advocating for a fresh candidate who can resonate with Nigerians and repair internal cracks.

Rumours of Obi and Jonathan’s Return

As the opposition strategizes ahead of the next election cycle, speculation is mounting over a possible comeback of two prominent political figures—former President Goodluck Jonathan and Labour Party’s 2023 flagbearer, Peter Obi.

Moro confirmed that discussions were ongoing to persuade both men to rejoin the PDP. He revealed that overtures had been made to Obi, who once served as Atiku’s running mate in 2019 before defecting to the Labour Party, where he ran a strong third-place campaign in 2023. “Certain individuals have been talking to Peter Obi, saying, ‘Hey, come back home, this is what we are likely to do, and if you come, you stand a chance of being the candidate,’” Moro disclosed.

Similarly, Moro noted that some stakeholders were in talks with Jonathan, who has remained largely inactive in PDP affairs since his 2015 defeat. While the former president has not declared any political ambition, PDP insiders view him as a potential unifying figure capable of reenergizing the party’s base.

Challenges Ahead for the Opposition

Despite these manoeuvres, the PDP faces daunting challenges. Analysts say Obi’s growing national popularity and Jonathan’s long absence from partisan politics could complicate efforts to reintegrate them into the fold. Furthermore, the internal rivalry among PDP governors, lawmakers, and political blocs remains unresolved.

Moro himself admitted that Atiku’s candidacy in 2023 not only deepened divisions but also alienated certain regions that felt marginalized in the party’s decision-making process. Reconciling these factions and presenting a credible alternative to the APC will require delicate negotiations and a clear, forward-looking agenda.

The senator, however, remained optimistic that with the right leadership and a strong coalition, the PDP could bounce back in 2027. He emphasized that listening to the electorate and correcting past mistakes would be central to the party’s resurgence.

What Next for the PDP?

With less than two years to the 2027 polls, the PDP is at a crossroads. The party must decide whether to stick with its old guard or embrace new leaders capable of mobilizing mass support across Nigeria’s diverse political landscape.

For now, conversations around Obi and Jonathan’s possible return dominate the opposition’s strategy meetings. Whether these discussions translate into actual candidacies remains uncertain. What is clear, however, is that the PDP cannot afford another misstep like the one in 2023.

As Moro’s blunt assessment suggests, the choice of candidate in the next election will determine not just the party’s survival, but also its relevance in Nigeria’s shifting political terrain.