Atiku Abubakar’s recent defection from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has sparked intense debate about his commitment to the party and his political strategy.
According to an interview on TVC News from 14:50 on Friday, July 18, 2025, Dr. Adetokunbo Pearse, a prominent PDP chieftain in Lagos, offers a critical perspective on Atiku’s departure, contrasting it with President Bola Tinubu’s resilience within the All Progressives Congress (APC).
He stated that roughly two years before the 2023 general election, Tinubu faced significant challenges within the APC.
Pearse notes that Tinubu and Adams Oshiomhole were nearly ousted from the party.
However, Tinubu remained steadfast, leveraging his deep-rooted influence and contributions to the APC.
He stated that Tinubu’s unwavering commitment stemmed from years of dedication, where he invested heavily in the party’s growth, both financially and strategically.
This resilience paid off, enabling Tinubu to weather the storm and emerge as a dominant force, ultimately securing the presidency.
In contrast, Pearse argues that Atiku never truly owned the PDP’s structure.
Unlike Tinubu, who cultivated a strong network within the APC, Atiku failed to invest adequately in the PDP’s framework.
He stated that Atiku’s lack of sustained effort in nurturing party loyalty and infrastructure left him vulnerable.
In his words, “Look at what Asiwaju Tinubu did, about 2 years before the 2023 election, Asiwaju was virtually dismissed from APC, him and Oshiomole, he didn’t leave, he stood his ground, because he knew his strength in the party. The Problem with Atiku is that he never really owned the party, he never really contributed nor invested in the structure of the party. Asiwaju Tinubu invested his time, energy and money in the party, and that is what took him over during those difficult times that Buhari removed him from the party, but he stood his ground. Atiku didn’t stand his ground.”
