Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, announced his resignation yesterday, from the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, citing irreconcilable differences and bridge of founder’s principles.
Atiku, in a letter dated July 14, 2025, and addressed to the Chairman of PDP Jada 1 Ward in Adamawa State, formally terminated his membership of the party with immediate effect.
Atiku, who served as Vice President from 1999 to 2007, expressed deep gratitude for the opportunities the party afforded him, including running twice as its presidential candidate.
In addition, he said his decision was driven by what he described as the party’s departure from its core values.
The letter read: “I am writing to formally resign my membership from the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, with immediate effect.
“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,” he wrote. “As a founding father of this esteemed party, it is indeed heart-breaking for me to make this decision.
“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, recognising 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.”
The PDP dismissed the resignation describing it as ‘nothing new’ and urged Nigerians to shift focus to more pressing issues such as hunger and economic hardship, rather than political defections.
A senior member of PDP’s National Working Committee, NWC said Atiku’s move was expected and not a surprise.
“Atiku’s departure from the PDP is nothing new. As Nigerians, we tend to become overly fixated on individuals. Hasn’t Atiku left this party before? Did anything fundamentally change?” the official stated.
Efforts to reach the PDP’s National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, for an official reaction were unsuccessful, as he did not respond to multiple phone calls.
Following his resignation, the PDP, Oyo State governor, Seyi Makinde, and former Deputy National Chairman of the party, said Atiku’s exit would not threatened PDP’s fortunes at the poll come 2027.
Makinde said this in Akure, Ondo State at the 10th anniversary of the rulership of the Deji of Akure, Oba Aladetoyinbo Aladelusi.
The governor said: “Politics is a game of interest. I don’t think that will make any dent on PDP as a party.
“The Peoples Democratic Party is an institution. We have freedom of entrance and exit. Anyone that will hold PDP down, it is better for such an individual to quit.”
A former Deputy National Chairman of the party, Chief Olabode George, said the former VP’s exit from the party has confirmed his selfishness.
He said: “Atiku has just confirmed that his selfishness made him leave the party. he is more bothered about what he stands to gain rather than what Nigerians stand to gain or benefit.
“For me, my advise to him, as a friend and an older brother, is that he should retire home and rest. In 2007, he should have gotten what he wanted but he missed the opportunity. My advise to him is to spend the rest of his life in peace of mind with his family. He should learn from the life of late Muhammadu Buhari.
‘’Atiku has benefited by becoming number two in this country and he is not somebody who can be pushed away easily. What else does he want to offer Nigerians? It is because he wants to be President that is why he left the PDP, he has done it before.
‘’He was taught a lesson by Bola but presently, there is no place he can return to. My advice to him is that he should go and rest. I would not say he should not contest but he cannot get the ticket or our party because our laws don’t allow it.”
