2027: Why everyone is afraid of Atiku – Momodu
Renowned media entrepreneur and political commentator, Mr. Dele Momodu, has announced his defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the African Democratic Congress (ADC), citing internal disarray within the PDP and a strategic shift in opposition politics, REPUBLICAN NIGERIA reports.
Speaking during a televised interview on Thursday, Momodu declared his unwavering support for former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as the most viable opposition candidate for the 2027 presidential election.
“Everybody is afraid of Atiku, and that is exactly why I support him,” Momodu said. “When everyone is trying to discredit or silence a man, it means he’s the one they truly fear. That fear confirms his strength as a formidable opposition figure.”
Momodu, who contested the presidency in 2011 and participated in the PDP presidential primaries in 2022, criticised the lack of cohesion and internal democracy in the PDP, describing the party as “paralysed” since the fallout of the last primaries.
“Since 2022, PDP has been struggling to stay alive. Those who lost the primaries, whether presidential aspirants or would-be running mates, felt betrayed. No reconciliation meetings could be held. The party became paralysed,” he said.
Responding to accusations of political inconsistency due to his frequent party shifts, Momodu said his moves are tactical.
“When an armed robber invades your home, your priority is survival. What APC is doing today is turning Nigeria into a one-party dictatorship. So, what we’re doing is strategic repositioning,” he said. “You don’t play Brazil by playing Brazil’s game. We are playing APC in a way they don’t understand—and clearly, it’s working.”
On criticism that opposition figures are divided by personal ambition, Momodu said, “Without power, all of us are just contestants. Change cannot come unless we first take power. Power is not about where you come from—it’s about who can get the votes.”
He dismissed calls for power rotation to the South, as advocated by elder statesman Chief Bode George, arguing instead for electoral realism.
“This is not about zoning; it’s about numbers. The North has 19 states, the South has 17. You can’t ignore the arithmetic. If a Northerner like Atiku has the numbers and Nigerians vote for him, so be it.”
Momodu also defended Atiku’s repeated presidential bids and age, stating that persistence is not a weakness in a democracy.
“If President Tinubu, who is older, is still in office, why can’t Atiku run? Buhari contested four times before winning. Abraham Lincoln and Donald Trump also had multiple attempts. Persistence in democracy is courage, not a crime,” he asserted.
Reaffirming his belief in Atiku’s leadership capacity, Momodu said, “Atiku is not the enemy. The real enemy is one-party rule, failed policies, and poverty. Our coalition will determine who flies the flag, but certainly, it won’t be dictated by APC. Atiku remains the man to beat.”
