PDP stronger after Atiku’s exit, says Lagos chieftain Prince Laja Adeoye, who insists the party is rebuilding for a stronger 2027 campaign
The ‘PDP stronger after Atiku’s exit’ narrative gained momentum on Friday after a Lagos State chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, Prince Laja Adeoye, declared that the party would not collapse following former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s exit.
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Adeoye, a House of Representatives aspirant for Oshodi-Isolo Federal Constituency, said the PDP remained the most credible platform for Nigerians seeking democratic renewal, and insisted the party would be “stronger, more focused, and more united” ahead of the 2027 general elections.
He made the comments in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Lagos, reacting to Atiku’s resignation from the party earlier in the week.
Atiku, who was the PDP’s presidential candidate in 2019 and 2023, formally withdrew from the party on Wednesday, citing irreconcilable issues and structural disunity.
Though he has not publicly declared for another political party, the coalition of opposition figures led by him recently adopted the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as its vehicle for the 2027 elections.
Adeoye dismissed Atiku’s departure as a non-event for the PDP’s survival.
“PDP cannot die because one man left the party, as you know, this is not the first time Atiku is exiting the PDP, the party stands, regardless,” he said.
He argued that the former vice president’s repeated ambition to secure the party’s presidential ticket had often sowed discord among stakeholders, hampering internal stability.
According to him, the PDP now has a fresh opportunity to rebuild its foundation without the overbearing influence of a recurring candidate.
“The exit of Atiku is bringing a kind of calm that we need. The PDP will reorganise, heal, and emerge stronger than before. There are capable leaders across the country willing to work with the party without making it a one-man show,” Adeoye said.
In his view, many of those who joined the ADC coalition would eventually find their way back to the PDP when they realised the limitations of the new alliance.
He insisted the PDP remained the largest and most established political platform in Africa.
“One thing that is certain is that a lot of people who have joined ADC will return to the PDP sooner or later as PDP gets more formidable,” he said.
Adeoye was not dismissive of the idea of a broad-based opposition coalition but stressed that it must be led by the PDP to succeed.
“I am not against coalition-building, but it can only work when the PDP is at the forefront. Anything else is simply not realistic,” he added.
The ADC coalition, though still evolving, already includes political heavyweights such as former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi, ex-Minister of Interior Rauf Aregbesola, former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, and ex-Transportation Minister Rotimi Amaechi.
Despite these high-profile names, Adeoye expressed confidence in the PDP’s chances, describing 2027 as “a golden opportunity for national reset” under a reinvigorated opposition.
He maintained that the true battle for Nigeria’s future would not be determined by name-dropping or elite coalitions but by the strength of party structures, grassroots mobilisation, and internal democracy.
The PDP, once Nigeria’s dominant ruling party, has struggled with internal rifts and electoral losses in recent years.
Atiku’s exit adds to the party’s recent woes, but Adeoye believes it is a turning point for genuine reform.
“The PDP stronger after Atiku’s exit means we can now focus on collective leadership, not personal ambition. That’s the message we must carry to every state and ward,” he said.
Also read: Keyamo Slams Atiku Over PDP Resignation During Buhari’s Mourning
As the 2027 elections draw closer, all eyes remain on whether the PDP can translate this internal realignment into a competitive national platform or if the rising ADC coalition will pull opposition momentum in a new direction.
