Former Vice President of Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar, has formally resigned his membership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), citing the party’s deviation from its founding ideals as the reason for his decision.
Atiku, who served as Nigeria’s vice president from 1999 to 2007 under the PDP and twice contested for the presidency on the party’s platform, announced his resignation in a letter dated July 14, 2025, addressed to the PDP chairman of his ward in Jada Local Government Area of Adamawa State.
The former vice president, widely regarded as one of the founding fathers of the PDP, said he took the painful decision after assessing what he described as the “trajectory” the party has taken in recent years.
“I am writing to formally resign my membership from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) with immediate effect,” the letter reads.
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“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.
“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.
“It is with a heavy heart that I resign, recognizing the irreconcilable differences that have emerged. I wish the Party and its leadership all the best in the future.”
Atiku also noted that the decision was not an easy one, adding that as a founding member of the PDP, the current state of affairs within the party is “heartbreaking.”
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The development comes amid ongoing efforts by opposition elements to form a broader coalition to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2027 general elections. Atiku is believed to be playing a strategic role in the evolving opposition alliance.
There is no official word yet on whether the former vice president intends to join another political party or lead a new political movement.
The PDP has yet to release an official response to Atiku’s resignation.