PDP has lost its way, says Atiku, formally resigns from party

PDP has lost its way, says Atiku, formally resigns from party 

 

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has resigned as a member of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) with immediate effect.

In a letter dated July 14, 2025, and addressed to the Chairman PDP, Jada 1 Ward Jada LGA Adamawa State, Atiku, founding member of the PDP, expressed gratitude for the opportunity given to him by the former ruling party.

A copy of Abubakar’s resignation letter seen on social media read, “I am writing to formally resign my membership from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) with immediate effect.”

Giving reasons for his action, he said, “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.”

Abubakar thanked the party for giving him a platform to serve as vice president between 1999-2007.

“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,” Abubakar said.

The former vice president’s resignation from the PDP came a few weeks after the formation of a coalition by opposition politicians.

The coalition adopted the African Democratic Congress as their official party to contest the 2027 presidential poll.

Abubakar, 78, who will turn 80 by 2027, will be taking his seventh shot at the presidency if he emerges as candidate of the ADC coalition, having contested the presidency six times.

In 1993, Abubakar contested on the Social Democratic Party (SDP) platform. After serving two terms as vice president upon return to democracy in 1999, Mr Abubakar in 2007, contested on the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) platform, losing to Umar Ya’Adua of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

He challenged former President Goodluck Jonathan in the PDP’s primaries in 2011 and lost. After joining the All Progressives Congress in 2014 ahead of the 2015 election, Mr Abubakar lost the presidential primaries to Muhammadu Buhari.

The former vice president returned to the PDP in 2017 and lost the presidential election to Buhari of the APC in 2019.

He contested against Tinubu in 2023 and lost.