The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has firmly denied engaging in any merger, fusion, or amalgamation talks with other political parties. This statement comes amid speculation about potential coalition efforts involving PDP’s 2023 presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, and his Labour Party counterpart, Peter Obi, along with other political entities.

Yunusa Tanko, spokesman for the defunct Obi-Datti presidential campaign council, reiterated that Obi is not interested in any merger aimed at seeking political power.

Despite these speculations, the PDP expressed its readiness to welcome back former members who had departed for other political parties. This declaration was made following Tuesday’s PDP NWC’s 587th meeting in Abuja.

In a statement by PDP spokesman Debo Ologunagba, the party emphasized its strength and capacity to win elections independently. “While the PDP, as a truly people’s party, is open and welcoming to all Nigerians including our former members who left for other parties, we state that our party remains strong and formidable, capable of winning elections in a free, fair, and transparent electoral process in our country,” Ologunagba stated.

The NWC acknowledged the influx of new members through its ongoing Party Membership Drive across all Electoral Wards in the country, affirming the PDP’s status as the preferred party for many Nigerians. “The public, teeming members of our great party, democracy institutions, and the international community should therefore disregard any report suggesting any form of merger between the PDP and any other political party, as such is not in the contemplation of our great party,” Ologunagba added.