‘Count me out of it’: Atiku denies involvement in PDP leadership crisis

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has distanced himself from the ongoing leadership crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

His Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shuaibu, stated that Atiku is not involved in the turmoil currently affecting the party.

The PDP has experienced suspensions and counter-suspensions recently, prompting intervention from the PDP Governors’ Forum, Board of Trustees, and the National Reconciliation Committee.

Analysts suggest that the tensions are linked to long-standing disagreements between Atiku and FCT Minister Nyesom Wike.

Notably, both Atiku and Wike were absent from a recent meeting described by PDP Governors Forum Chairman Bala Mohammed as a gathering of all party stakeholders.

There are concerns that the internal divisions may resurface during the upcoming National Executive Council (NEC) meeting scheduled for November 28.

In response to inquiries about Atiku’s involvement in discussions among some PDP members to challenge a court order preventing the removal of acting National Chairman Ambassador Umar Damagum, Shuaibu dismissed such suggestions as “bizarre.”

“Former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar believes in due process and he has been focused on how to build the PDP into a more formidable Party and he completely has no hand in any crisis that would rather draw the party backwards.

“It is extremely farfetched and unfair to insinuate that Atiku has any involvement with any individual or group’s plans to brief lawyers and go to court towards vacating Justice Peter Lifu’s judgement,” Shuaibu stressed.