How Atiku Left PDP For ACN – Oshiomhole Breaks Silence”

Former Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, has said that Atiku Abubakar, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), is the most qualified person to explain why Nigerian politicians frequently defect from one party to another. Speaking during an interview on Channels Television on Tuesday, Oshiomhole argued that Atiku pioneered political defections in Nigeria, citing his move from the PDP while still serving as vice president. According to the Senator, Atiku should be the one to author a book detailing the motivations behind political defections. “In my view, no one is better placed to explain defections than His Excellency Atiku Abubakar,” Oshiomhole said. “As vice president, he famously left the PDP for the Action Congress (AC), which later became part of the APC. Was he forced? Certainly not. Tinubu was not a government official at the time.” He emphasized that opposition politicians can win elections without joining the ruling party, drawing from his own experience. “I contested as an opposition candidate. In 2007, the PDP rigged me out, but I went to court and won. In 2012, I ran again and won. So, I understand the challenges of being in opposition,” he noted. Oshiomhole added that internal crises often drive politicians away from their parties. “When a party is in disarray, and leaders are consumed with party problems instead of governance, it’s no surprise members seek alternatives,” he said. Returning to Atiku, Oshiomhole recounted: “Atiku left Obasanjo and the PDP to seek the presidential ticket in ACN. Later, he returned to the PDP to contest against Jonathan. After that loss, he rejoined the APC to challenge Buhari. Were any of those moves coerced?” He concluded, “Truly, if anyone is qualified to explain the real reasons behind political defections in Nigeria, it is Atiku Abubakar.”