Atiku Abubakar quits PDP, cites betrayal of party’s founding ideals

|By Adejumo Adekunle-

-Says party has derailed, vows commitment to opposition coalition

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has officially resigned from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), citing what he described as a troubling shift in the party’s direction.

Atiku, who served as Nigeria’s Vice President from 1999 to 2007 and twice contested for the presidency under the PDP, submitted his resignation in a letter dated July 14, 2025. The letter was addressed to the Chairman of the PDP in his home Ward in Jada Local Government Area of Adamawa State.

In the letter, the political heavyweight expressed deep disappointment over what he termed the party’s deviation from its founding principles.

“I am writing to formally resign my membership from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) with immediate effect,” the letter reads in part.

Atiku expressed gratitude to the PDP for the platform it provided him over the years but said the party no longer reflects the vision that inspired its creation.

“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. 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,” he wrote.

Describing the move as “heartbreaking,” Atiku noted that irreconcilable differences now exist between him and the party leadership. He also reaffirmed his role in the broader opposition movement, though he did not specify his next political move.

“It is with a heavy heart that I resign, recognizing the irreconcilable differences that have emerged,” he added.

Atiku’s exit marks a seismic shift in Nigeria’s political landscape, potentially altering the dynamics of the opposition ahead of the 2027 general elections. His departure could spark new alignments or deepen the internal cracks already visible within the PDP.