FORMER Vice President Atiku Abubakar has resigned his membership of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) with immediate effect.
In a letter dated July 14, 2025, and addressed to the Chairman of the PDP, Jada 1 Ward, Jada Local Government Area (LGA) of Adamawa State, Atiku stated that his resignation is due to irreconcilable differences that have emerged within the former ruling party.
He noted that he found it necessary to part ways due to the current trajectory the party has taken, which, according to him, diverges from the foundational principles it stood for.
The letter reads, “I am writing to formally resign my membership from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) with immediate effect.
“I would like to take this opportunity to express my profound gratitude for the opportunities I have been given by the Party.
“Serving two full terms as Vice President of Nigeria and being a Presidential candidate twice has been one of the most significant chapters of my life. As a founding father of this esteemed Party, it is indeed heartbreaking for me to make this decision.
“However, I find it necessary to part ways due to the current trajectory the Party has taken, which I believe diverges from the foundational principles we stood for. It is with a heavy heart that I resign, recognizing the irreconcilable differences that have emerged.
“I wish the Party and its leadership all the best in the future. Thank you once again for the opportunities and support.”
Atiku was elected as the Vice President on the platform of the PDP, serving under ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo from 1999 to 2007.
He has also been the PDP’s presidential candidate on two occasions, flying the party’s flag in the 2019 and 2023 elections. Atiku, however, did not succeed in the two outings for the party, losing to Muhammadu Buhari in 2019 and the incumbent President Bola Tinubu in 2023.
Atiku’s resignation from the ruling party may not be unconnected with the preparation for the 2027 general elections. He and other top opposition figures, including the 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi, former Transport Minister Rotimi Amaechi, and former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai, have formed a coalition aimed at unseating President Tinubu.
On July 2, the coalition came together to adopt the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as the platform to unseat the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 general elections.
The ADC appointed a former Senate President, David Mark, who has also resigned his membership of the PDP, as its interim national chairman, with a former governor of Osun State, Rauf Aregbesola, appointed as the interim national secretary.
This is not the first time Atiku has dumped the PDP to pursue his presidential ambition in other political parties.
He first left the party just after serving out his term as the vice president to contest for the Presidency in 2007 on the platform of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), after the then ruling party favoured the late former President Umar Musa Yar’Adua for its ticket.
Atiku lost out in the general election, coming third behind Muhammadu Buhari and the eventual winner, Yar’Adua.
He would, however, make a return to the PDP to contest for its presidential ticket ahead of the 2011 presidential election and lost to Goodluck Jonathan, who went ahead to win the general election.
Again, Atiku left the PDP with other top members of the party, including Bukola Saraki, Rotimi Amaechi, to join the coalition that formed the All Progressives Congress (APC). He lost the APC presidential ticket to Muhammadu Buhari and went ahead to support him to defeat the incumbent president Jonathan.
The former VP continued his pursuit of the most coveted seat in the country, leading him to yet again return to the PDP in 2017, winning the party’s presidential ticket again, only to lose to the incumbent President Buhari in the 2019 election.
He flew the PDP flag again in the 2023 election, where he came second after Tinubu. The fallout with the FCT Minister from the PDP primary in 2022 caused a major crisis in the opposition party, leading Atiku to now resign from the party for the third time.