Umar Ardo, the former Special Adviser on Research and Strategy to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, has asserted that governors within the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) are not aligned with the party’s presidential candidate post the 2023 election and Supreme Court judgment.
In an interview with PUNCH, Ardo highlighted the rift between Atiku and the G-5 governors and criticized the PDP’s handling of the disagreement. Drawing attention to Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed’s praise for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu after the Supreme Court verdict, Ardo emphasized the need for Atiku to suspend his presidential ambition and assume a statesmanlike role to salvage his standing in the party.
Ardo stated, “I want you to know that as Vice President, I was Atiku’s adviser on Research and Strategy, but when he stopped listening to my advice, I pulled back and watched him. He made so many errors that denied him the presidency; he so much believed that it was his to pick on a silver platter.
“But to answer your question, I didn’t say the PDP will suspend Atiku. I only made what I see as an objective analysis of the political situation of the party on the ground. It is reasonable to assume that the press conference Atiku held after the Supreme Court judgment on his appeal was significant enough for the key members of the party, of which the governors are central, to attend.
“Many of them were in Abuja, but none attended his press conference; only for them to meet and congratulate Wike, Atiku’s key opponent in the party, in less than 24 hours of his appointment. They also pacified him (Wike) on the crisis he was having with his governor. They immediately moved straight to hold a press conference and endorse the judgment of the Supreme Court, which Atiku vehemently disagreed with.
