Dankwambo Declares Atiku Northern Leader Despite Defection, Urges Unity Within PDP

Former Gombe State Governor and current senator representing Gombe North, Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo, has declared former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as the political leader of Northern Nigeria, irrespective of his recent defection to the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
Dankwambo made this assertion on Sunday night during an expanded stakeholders’ meeting of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Gombe, aimed at reinforcing unity and updating party members on recent national developments.
“It’s time to build our party. As of today, it’s not about the leadership of the party, but we have leaders we recognise,” Dankwambo told the gathering. “In the North, Atiku Abubakar is our leader. We love and like him, and by virtue of his position as a former vice president, he remains our leader whether he is in PDP or ADC.”
Dankwambo, who contested the PDP presidential primary in 2019, extended similar recognition to other northern political figures, including incumbent Vice President Kashim Shettima and former Vice President Namadi Sambo.
“Shettima is our leader; he is our vice president, and he is from this zone—we love and like him. We even hope he comes to our party. Namadi Sambo is also our leader,” he said.
Amid speculations about a possible presidential bid in 2027, Dankwambo was unequivocal about his current political stance.
“I don’t have the intention now to contest for the office of President. I have done it before, but as of today, I don’t have the intention to contest. Let’s focus on building our party; only God gives power,” he stated.
The stakeholders’ meeting, which drew prominent PDP members across the state, was convened to update members on the recent National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting in Abuja.
According to Dankwambo, the PDP remains structurally ahead of its rivals.
“I want to assure our people that, as of today, it’s only the PDP that has completed congresses from the ward, local government, and state levels. Our zonal congresses that were due have been concluded, and we have fixed the date for our national convention that will conclude other matters about the party,” he said.
Also speaking at the event, Senator Anthony Siyako (PDP, Gombe South) downplayed concerns about internal division and defection within the PDP, maintaining that the party remains solid and cohesive.
“We want to disabuse people’s minds. Seeing all of us here—members of the National Assembly and State Assembly—shows that all is well,” Siyako said.
Addressing questions on whether the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has become a disruptive force in the PDP, Siyako replied, “Wike is a single person in the whole system. If PDP were a one-man business, he would be a problem. But PDP is not a one-man business.”
He continued, “I have not seen any party that has consolidated and grown from the root like the PDP. All others are meeting points of some people along the way, and therefore, to disperse is easier.”
The meeting concluded with a renewed call for unity, discipline, and strategic planning as the party prepares for its national convention and future electoral contests.