Politics

PDP lost the 2023 election because Atiku was ‘too cocky,’ says ex-lawmaker Tajudeen

Tajudeen Yusuf, a former member of the House of Representatives and member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has blamed the party’s loss in the 2023 general election on its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.

Speaking about the violence that disrupted the party’s Board of Trustees (BoT) meeting in Abuja on Wednesday, Yusuf warned that the PDP could repeat its mistakes if it doesn’t address internal issues ahead of the 2027 elections.

He said the main reason for the PDP’s 2023 defeat was Atiku’s attitude, explaining, “We lost the last election because I feel our flag bearer was too cocky and so sure he was the next president.”

Yusuf added that much of the current crisis within the party stems from struggles for power and control among party members, who are positioning themselves for the 2027 presidential race.

“What you have seen ahead of 2027 is that people are struggling for structure, for who controls what, and to become the party’s candidate. They forget the fact that being a candidate alone does not make you president,” Yusuf said.

The ex-lawmaker emphasized that the PDP is not effectively playing its role as the opposition, largely due to ambitious members who focus on running for elections instead of strengthening the party. He said, “A political party should be robust and not be about you running for election.”

Yusuf also pointed to the violence at the BoT meeting as a clear sign of the ongoing power struggle in the party, noting that it was a direct result of leadership failure and the inability to resolve internal crises. He admitted that the PDP’s mechanisms for managing conflict have failed, which he believes contributed to the current instability within the party.

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