Former Governor of Gombe State, Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo, says former Vice President Atiku Abubakar remains a key political figure in northern Nigeria, despite his defection to the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

Dankwambo, who is representing Gombe North Senatorial District, spoke during an Expanded Stakeholders’ Meeting of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

He described the former vice president and 2023 presidential candidate of the party as a widely respected leader whose status remains unchanged.

“It’s time to rebuild our party, today it’s not about contesting for elections. But we have leaders we recognize like 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 is our leader whether he is in PDP or ADC,” he said.

Senator Dankwambo called on the members of the PDP in the state to focus on rebuilding the party ahead of the 2027 general elections.

He stated that the party is currently rebuilding and must be fully repositioned before any member declares to contest for any political post.

“We are not talking about contests now. All we are after is to rebuild our party and position it for victory. All those wishing to contest should wait. Let’s build the party first,” Dankwambo said.

He reaffirmed PDP’s commitment to internal democracy, emphasising that it remains the only party to have conducted congresses from ward, local, state to zonal levels and is currently preparing for a national convention.

“PDP remains the only party that has held its Congress from the ward level, to the local government to the state and zonal level and is currently working to hold the national convention,” he stated.

Earlier, the member representing Balanga/Billiri Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Ali Isa JC, said the party had resolved its internal crisis and fixed its national convention to hold in Ibadan, Oyo State.

He disclosed that the PDP’s leadership has engaged senior lawyers to challenge defectors who won elections on the PDP platform but later decamped, in order to “reclaim those stolen mandates.” (Daily Trust)