Atiku: Nigerians switching parties for survival amid economic crisis

Former VP Atiku Abubakar says millions of Nigerians are changing political allegiance due to economic hardship, not political conviction. He criticized Governor Fintiri's PDP-to-APC defection as part of a trend where opposition governors join the ruling APC under pressure. Atiku alleges the Tinubu administration uses state institutions to intimidate rivals, creating a one-party system. He highlighted escalating food prices, poverty, insecurity, and unemployment as reasons ordinary Nigerians switch parties to survive. "Governors may defect for personal survival. Nigerians are defecting in their millions because they want survival," Atiku stated. He questioned the APC's 2027 campaign platform, asking what they would run on if Tinubu doesn't win: "What will the APC campaign on in 2027 — hunger? hardship? hopelessness?"

SOURCE: https://dailypost.ng/2026/02/28/gov-fintiri-millions-of-nigerians-defecting-due-to-survival-atiku/