- Unveils new political trajectory ahead of 2027 polls
- 2027 Calculations Prompt Exit
- PDP’s Unity in Question as Northern Bloc Wobbles
- New Alliance Party Gains Momentum
By Moses Adeniyi | Abuja
In a political move that has sent shockwaves through Nigeria’s opposition ranks, former Vice President and presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 general elections, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has again officially resigned from the party he was a part of the founding stakeholders.
This development comes just 20 months ahead of the 2027 general election, amid reports of high-level consultations and political realignments across the country.
Atiku’s decision was conveyed in a letter dated Monday, 14 July 2025, and addressed to the chairman of PDP, Jada 1 Ward, in Jada Local Government Area of Adamawa State — his political home base. A copy of the letter was shared on Wednesday via social media by his Special Assistant on Media, Abdul Rasheeth.
“The PDP has lost its soul” — Atiku
In the emotional yet pointed resignation letter, Atiku lamented what he described as the “irreconcilable” crises plaguing the PDP, stating that the party has strayed far from the values upon which it was founded in 1998.
“I am writing to formally resign my membership from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) with immediate effect,” Atiku declared.
“As a founding father of this esteemed party, it is indeed heartbreaking for me to make this decision. 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.”
“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 added.
The 77-year-old statesman, often referred to as the “political weathervane of Nigeria,” also alluded to the formation of a new coalition platform — the Alliance Democratic Congress (ADC) — which political observers believe may serve as the launchpad for his 2027 presidential bid.
Contradictory Signals from Atiku’s Camp
Interestingly, the resignation comes on the heels of a strong denial issued just days earlier by Atiku’s media adviser, Paul Ibe. In a statement, Ibe described reports of Atiku’s defection as “falsehoods” and a “politically motivated smear campaign.”
“His Excellency Atiku Abubakar… has not — we repeat, has not — resigned from the PDP,” Ibe insisted at the time.
“The source of this baseless rumour is a Facebook page peddling falsehoods… a calculated attempt to mislead the public and sow discord.”
This apparent volte-face has only deepened speculation about internal fractures within the PDP and the evolving realignment of opposition forces ahead of 2027.
A Party in Disarray
Atiku’s departure further exposes the cracks within the PDP, which has struggled to maintain cohesion since its defeat in the 2015 general election. Factional disputes, conflicting ambitions, and weak national leadership have contributed to its declining influence, despite retaining pockets of strength in key states.
Analysts note that Atiku’s exit could spark a wave of defections, particularly among loyalists in the North-East and North-Central geopolitical zones, where his political network remains formidable.
What Next for Atiku?
The emergence of the Alliance Democratic Congress (ADC), reportedly backed by a coalition of aggrieved PDP leaders and former APC stalwarts, is being closely watched. Political insiders suggest the new platform may seek to form a broader alliance with other opposition blocs to unseat the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2027.
For now, Atiku’s next political move remains the subject of intense speculation. But one thing is certain — Nigeria’s political chessboard has been significantly altered.
Alhaji Atiku Abubakar’s political journey has long been marked by strategic defections and recalibrations, often reflective of Nigeria’s fluid party dynamics. A founding member of the PDP in 1998, Atiku first parted ways with the party in 2006 following a bruising internal feud with then-President Olusegun Obasanjo, defecting to the Action Congress (AC) to pursue his presidential ambition in 2007.
After an unsuccessful bid, he returned to the PDP in 2009, aligning himself once more with the centre-left establishment. However, his ideological disagreements with the PDP leadership resurfaced, prompting another high-profile defection in 2014 to the All Progressives Congress (APC), where he played a key role in the coalition that dislodged the PDP from power in 2015.
Disillusioned with the APC’s internal politics, Atiku staged yet another return to the PDP in 2017 to contest the 2019 and later the 2023 presidential elections. His latest resignation, therefore, is not unprecedented, but it signals a calculated political manoeuvre as he once again positions himself at the forefront of Nigeria’s shifting opposition landscape ahead of the 2027 general elections.