…the party has strayed from its founding ideals – says Atiku
ABUJA, NIGERIA – The iNews Times reports that the former Vice President and two-time presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party PDP, Atiku Abubakar, has formally resigned his membership of the party, bringing to an end a decades-long association with the party he helped establish.
Atiku, who was the PDP’s presidential flagbearer in the 2023 general elections, announced his departure in a letter dated July 14, 2025, and addressed to the chairman of his ward in Jada Local Government Area of Adamawa State.
In the letter, Atiku expressed deep gratitude for the political platform the PDP provided him, notably during his tenure as Vice President from 1999 to 2007 and his two presidential runs. However, he said the party had strayed from its founding ideals.
“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,” the letter read. “It is with a heavy heart that I resign, recognizing the irreconcilable differences that have emerged.”
The former Vice President also acknowledged the support he received within the party over the years, even as he hinted at his frustration with recent developments in the PDP.
Atiku is now a key figure in the emerging opposition coalition anchored by the African Democratic Congress (ADC), further fueling speculations about a new political realignment ahead of the 2027 general elections.
His resignation marks a significant shake-up within the PDP ranks, as party leaders brace for the potential fallout from the exit of one of its founding fathers.
As of press time, the PDP leadership had yet to issue an official response.
