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Former Vice President of Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar, has officially tendered his resignation from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), drawing the curtain on his latest chapter with the party he co-founded over two decades ago.
His resignation was formally communicated through a letter dated July 14, 2025, addressed to the PDP Chairman in his home Ward, Jada Local Government Area of Adamawa State.
In the letter, Atiku expressed profound disappointment over the direction the party has taken in recent years, lamenting that the PDP has strayed far from its foundational principles and ideals. He explained that this divergence from the original vision of the party has made it impossible for him to continue as a member.
“I am writing to formally resign my membership from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) with immediate effect,” Atiku declared in the letter.
“It is with a heavy heart that I make this decision, recognizing the irreconcilable differences that have emerged between my personal convictions and the current trajectory of the Party. I believe the PDP has moved away from the core values and principles that brought us together at its inception.”
Atiku used the occasion to extend his deep gratitude to the PDP for the various opportunities it provided him over the years, especially during his tenure as Vice President of Nigeria between 1999 and 2007.
“I would like to take this opportunity to express my profound gratitude for the opportunities I have been given by the Party,” he stated.
“Serving two full terms as Vice President of Nigeria and being a Presidential candidate twice remains one of the most significant and defining periods of my political journey.”
Reflecting on his role in the formation of the PDP, Atiku described his decision to leave as a painful yet necessary step.
“As a founding father of this esteemed Party, it is indeed heartbreaking for me to make this decision. However, the widening gap between the Party’s current disposition and the foundational principles we once stood for leaves me with no choice.”
Concluding the letter, Atiku wished the PDP and its leadership success in their future endeavours, while reaffirming his appreciation for the support he received during his years in the party.
“I wish the Party and its leadership all the best in the future. Thank you once again for the opportunities and support.”
Atiku Abubakar, a dominant figure in Nigeria’s political landscape, has a long history of shifting political affiliations.
He began his Fourth Republic journey with the PDP in 1998, but his first major defection occurred in 2006 when he joined the Action Congress following his fallout with then-President Olusegun Obasanjo.
He returned to the PDP in 2009, only to move again in 2014 to the All Progressives Congress (APC). In 2017, he made his way back to the PDP before his latest resignation.
Presently, Atiku is a leading figure within the African Democratic Congress (ADC) opposition coalition, signalling his continued engagement in national politics despite his departure from the PDP.
Meanwhile, IREPORT247NEWS recalls that Senator Adams Oshiomhole, representing Edo North under the APC platform, once labelled Atiku Abubakar as Nigeria’s most prominent political defector.
Oshiomhole had humorously suggested that Atiku’s extensive history of party realignments easily qualifies him to author a comprehensive book on the subject of political defections in Nigeria.
READ MORE: Atiku Could Author ‘How to Defect in Politics’ – Oshiomhole
Atiku’s latest move is expected to further stir the political waters ahead of the 2027 general elections, as observers speculate on his next political alignment and the potential impact on the country’s opposition dynamics.