Former Vice President and 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has denied reports suggesting he is planning to dump the party for the Social Democratic Party (SDP).
Atiku’s special adviser on broadcast media, Abdulrasheed Shehu, addressed the speculation on X, stating unequivocally that the claims were false.
“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 rumors surfaced amid growing reports of Atiku’s political engagements with former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, who has recently been at odds with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
El-Rufai has criticized the current administration and hinted at a possible departure from the APC if the party strays from its founding ideals—though he made it clear that he would not return to the PDP.
This has led to speculations that both politicians, along with their allies, might be exploring a new political alignment, with the SDP emerging as a possible alternative.
The PDP, on the other hand, continues to grapple with internal leadership challenges, adding to the uncertainty surrounding Atiku’s next political move.