Dr. Umar Ardo, the former special adviser to the presidential candidate of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) in the last general election, Atiku Abubakar, has predicted that either Atiku will be expelled from the party or he will choose to depart voluntarily.
In a statement, Ardo noted that the relationship between Atiku and PDP governors has soured, describing their relationship as a “honeymoon” that has now come to an end, with both sides going their separate ways.
He stated that the catalyst for this division can be traced back to Atiku’s press conference, where he addressed the Supreme Court’s judgment and his stance regarding President Bola Tinubu’s prospective presidency.
Ardo added that with these opposing positions, it’s just a matter of time for the inevitable implosion to happen, and either Atiku steps down his presidential ambition or leaves the PDP.
Ardo said: “Reading through Atiku’s last Monday’s press conference regarding the outcome of the Supreme Court’s judgment and his position towards President Bola Tinubu’s Presidency vis-a-vis the following day’s communique of the PDP Governor’s Forum after its meeting at the Oyo State’s Governor’s Lodge, it’s obvious that the honeymoon between the party’s 2023 presidential candidate and its governors is now over.”
“In a separate address to the press following the communique, the chairman of the forum, Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State, extolled the leadership qualities of President Tinubu and reiterated the PDP governors’ readiness to cooperate, support and work with the federal government that he leads.
“Nothing else can be more explicit in illustrating the two going on their different and separate ways more than this.
“With these opposing positions, it’s just a matter of time (and in a not distant future) for the inevitable implosion to happen, and either Atiku steps down his presidential ambition or leaves the PDP, or be expelled from the party! That’s my reading of the political crystal ball.”