Ayo Fayose says PDP governors prefer Tinubu over Atiku, calling the proposed opposition coalition “a dead horse.” His remarks highlight the internal crisis in the PDP and shifting loyalties that could reshape Nigeria’s political landscape ahead of the 2027 elections.
Former Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose has claimed that many governors in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) privately prefer President Bola Tinubu to the party’s former presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.
Speaking on Channels TV’s Politics Today, Fayose dismissed the proposed opposition coalition led by Atiku as “a dead horse,” asserting that the recent PDP Governors' Forum meeting in Ibadan sent a clear message of disapproval toward Atiku’s leadership.
“The governors’ stance in Ibadan is to tell Atiku: we are not with you,” Fayose said. “Most of them prefer a Tinubu for their survival than an Atiku.”
Fayose argued that the idea of a coalition between opposition leaders like Atiku and Peter Obi is unrealistic, calling it a waste of time. “Obi can’t go to Atiku; Atiku can’t go to Obi,” he added.
His remarks underscore growing divisions within the PDP following its 2023 election loss. Analysts suggest the party is grappling with internal fractures, defections, and a lack of clear direction. Some link this disarray to unresolved rifts, particularly between Atiku and the influential G5 governors, several of whom are now openly working with the APC-led federal government.
As Nigeria looks ahead to 2027, Fayose’s comments reflect a deeper identity crisis within the PDP — and a growing shift toward pragmatism over party loyalty.
