2027: Ex-Atiku supporters dump PDP, back Tinubu for second term

Former supporters of Atiku Abubakar, former vice president have declared their support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027.

They urged the former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate to step aside from the race.

The endorsement was announced by Hon. Rowland Odih, the national coordinator of bridge for renewed hope and former director-general of the Atiku Youth Wing in a statement on Sunday.

Odih said the youth mobilisation group, which previously supported Atiku’s presidential ambition, had resolved to back President Tinubu after what he described as a careful assessment of Nigeria’s political landscape.

“We, the Youth Mobilisation Group operating under the platform of Bridge for Renewed Hope, formerly aligned with the presidential aspiration of Atiku Abubakar, hereby announce our unwavering endorsement of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the 2027 presidential election,” he stated.

According to him, Bridge for Renewed Hope is a youth-driven political coalition affiliated with the City Boy Movement and comprises former leaders and members of the Atiku Youth Wing who recently aligned with Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

Odih explained that the group officially dissolved its former structure and joined the City Boy Movement on June 4, 2026, alongside other political stakeholders supporting the President’s re-election project.

He said the coalition was established to mobilise young Nigerians, promote youth participation in governance, encourage digital innovation, and support leadership development and empowerment initiatives across the country.

The former Atiku ally maintained that while members of the group recognised Atiku’s contributions to Nigeria’s democratic development, they believed his chances of winning the presidency had diminished.

“While we acknowledge his commitment and contributions to Nigeria’s democratic journey, we believe the pathway to electoral victory for him has become increasingly difficult,” Odih said.

He appealed to the former vice president to withdraw from the 2027 presidential contest and support President Tinubu, arguing that such a move would foster political unity and strengthen efforts towards national development.

Odih added that the group’s decision was driven by its conviction that Tinubu’s administration offers the most viable platform for advancing youth inclusion and sustaining ongoing reforms under the Renewed Hope Agenda.