Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has explained why he could not take decisive action to resolve the crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Speaking to BBC Hausa Service on Wednesday, Atiku said he was limited by his position, noting that as neither National Chairman nor National Secretary, he lacked the authority to enforce changes.
According to him,The National Chairman and Secretary gave less attention to his views,leaving him unable to take decisions that could have strengthened the party.
The crisis in the PDP began in 2022 during preparations for the 2023 presidential elections. The party decided that its ticket should go to the North, the same region as the party’s National chairman. That decision paved the way for Atiku’s emergence as the party’s presidential candidate,creating tension among some PDP leaders.
The disagreement and crisis eventually pushed Atiku and other members to the opposition party, the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
Atiku also claimed that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) had backed individuals who worked to weaken PDP from within.
“I could have taken some firm decisions to fix the party if I was the chairman or secretary of the party or someone that listens to me was the chairman or secretary.
“Sadly, the people occupying those positions have different interests that are mostly personal to them,” he said.
