The All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have jointly dismissed former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s resignation from the PDP and his reported alignment with the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as inconsequential to the 2027 presidential race, asserting that his defection poses no tangible threat to President Bola Tinubu’s re-election prospects.
In an official letter dated July 14, 2025, addressed to the Chairman of his ward in Jada 1, Adamawa State, Atiku formally severed ties with the PDP. This marks the third time since Nigeria’s return to democracy in 1999 that Atiku has exited the party in pursuit of his long-standing presidential aspirations.
Notably, he defected to the Action Congress in 2006 in preparation for the 2007 elections, and again in 2014 to join the newly formed APC, before his most recent departure to the ADC.
Atiku, who served as the PDP’s presidential candidate in both the 2019 and 2023 elections, cited the party’s deviation from its founding principles as the rationale behind his decision. In his resignation letter, obtained by The PUNCH, he wrote:
“I hereby tender my resignation from the Peoples Democratic Party with immediate effect. I remain deeply grateful for the opportunities the party afforded me—including my service as Vice President for two terms and my candidacy in two presidential elections. As a founding member, this decision is profoundly painful.
However, given the current trajectory of the party, which no longer reflects the ideals upon which it was established, I find it necessary to part ways. I depart with a heavy heart, fully aware of the irreconcilable differences that have emerged. I wish the party and its leadership continued success.”
Atiku’s spokesperson, Paul Ibe, confirmed his departure from the PDP but withheld further comment on the former Vice President’s future political alignment, stating, “Yes, it is true—he has left the PDP. Further details will be communicated in due course.”
Nonetheless, a well-placed source within Atiku’s inner circle, speaking on condition of anonymity, affirmed that he intends to join the ADC and will formally declare his presidential ambition imminently.
In response, Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, a prominent figure within the PDP Governors Forum, downplayed the significance of Atiku’s exit. Speaking in Akure at a colloquium commemorating the 10th coronation anniversary of Oba Aladetoyinbo Aladelusi, the Deji of Akure, Makinde remarked:
“I don’t foresee any serious impact on the PDP. The party is an institution. People come and go—it is part of democratic life.”
Similarly, PDP Board of Trustees member Chief Bode George criticized Atiku’s relentless presidential ambition, suggesting it has clouded his political judgment. In an interview with The PUNCH, George expressed disappointment:
“His resignation deeply shocked me. I had hoped he would engage in deep introspection and reconsider. He has traveled this road before—joining Bola Tinubu only to be betrayed, and returning to the PDP.
At this stage in his life, he must recognize that ambition alone cannot guide political engagement. In PDP, zoning is sacrosanct: eight years for the North, eight years for the South. He knows he cannot secure the 2027 ticket—it belongs to the South. He will have to wait until 2031.
Of course, he is free to pursue his ambitions elsewhere, but not within the PDP. Those who manipulated the rules previously have now defected to ADC.”
George further questioned Atiku’s rationale, referencing past miscalculations:
“Who created the crisis he now laments? He could have succeeded Obasanjo in 2007, but was misled by Tinubu into attempting to unseat Obasanjo after a single term. When he walked out of our convention to join Tinubu’s party, what was his intention? Now, he returns with similar goals.
At 81 by 2027, what more does he seek? He should mentor the next generation rather than persist in personal ambition. The PDP nurtured him—he was Vice President for eight years. Must he dominate the political landscape forever?”
In an unexpected twist, several members of the PDP in Atiku’s home state of Adamawa celebrated his departure. Speaking to The PUNCH in Yola, various party leaders described the development as a turning point and a potential boon for the PDP ahead of the 2027 elections.
Tahir Shehu, the PDP Chairman in Adamawa State, asserted confidently that Atiku’s exit would not hinder the party’s prospects, declaring, “His departure represents no setback for the PDP.”
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