Senator Abba Moro, a prominent chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has stirred up political debate following his recent comments that the party’s decision to field Atiku Abubakar as its presidential candidate in the 2023 general elections was a significant error. His statement has sparked fresh discourse within party ranks and among the general public.
Speaking during a political segment on Channels Television, Moro expressed dissatisfaction with how the PDP handled the zoning formula and candidate selection. According to him, ignoring the calls for southern representation and defaulting again to a northern candidate weakened the party’s national appeal.
Atiku Abubakar, a former Vice President, was the PDP’s flagbearer in 2019 and again in 2023. Many had questioned the wisdom of repeating the same strategy, especially amid growing agitation for power shift to the South. Moro believes this move contributed to PDP’s poor outing at the polls.
“Fielding Atiku was not only a miscalculation but a betrayal of the zoning principle that has kept the party united over the years,” Moro said. “It gave our opponents the narrative that we are tone-deaf to national unity and fairness.”
The fallout from Atiku’s candidacy was evident during the campaign period, as several party governors and stakeholders from the South felt marginalized. This led to internal divisions and weakened support from some key states that traditionally leaned PDP.
Moro’s statement is coming at a critical time when the party is trying to rebuild ahead of 2027. His comments are expected to intensify the conversation on reforming PDP’s internal democratic processes, particularly around transparency in primary elections and zoning agreements.
Political analysts have noted that unless the PDP urgently addresses these internal fractures, it may continue to lose relevance on the national scene. Many believe the party needs new leadership, fresh vision, and a commitment to equity if it hopes to regain lost ground.
While Atiku himself has remained largely silent since the election loss, his loyalists within the PDP may not take kindly to Moro’s remarks. Party unity could once again be tested, especially if power blocs start to form ahead of the next convention.
Already, there are whispers of possible realignment within the opposition space, and PDP’s internal crisis could either fuel that movement or force the party into a stronger resolve to get its act together.
As Nigeria moves closer to 2027, it’s clear that the political chessboard is already shifting. Senator Moro’s blunt assessment might just be the wake-up call PDP needs—or another chapter in its prolonged struggle for cohesion and relevance.
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