NIGERIA: Atiku Officially Resigns From PDP, Confirms New Coalition Party

By Onoja Baba, Nigeria 

Nigerian Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has officially resigned from the Peoples Democratic Party, marking a dramatic political shift ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Atiku’s resignation, which he described as painful but necessary, was confirmed in a letter dated July 14, 2025, addressed to the chairman of the PDP in Jada 1 Ward, Jada Local Government Area of Adamawa State.

The letter was made public on Wednesday by Atiku’s Special Assistant on Media, Abdul Rasheeth, via social media.

In the letter, Atiku cited irreconcilable differences and the party’s deviation from its founding ideals as reasons for his departure.

He also confirmed his role in forming a new political movement, the Alliance Democratic Congress, setting the stage for what could be one of the most competitive presidential contests in Nigeria’s history.

“As a founding father of this esteemed party, it is indeed heartbreaking for me to make this decision,” Atiku wrote.

“But 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 said.

Atiku, who was PDP’s presidential candidate in both 2019 and 2023, said he remains grateful for the opportunities the party offered him, including serving two terms as Vice President.

His decision comes amid deepening internal divisions within the PDP, which has struggled to present a united front since losing power at the federal level in 2015.

Ironically, just days before the letter emerged, Atiku’s media adviser, Paul Ibe, had strongly denied rumours of defection, calling them politically motivated lies.

He said then that Atiku remained a loyal and committed member of the PDP.

That denial now appears to have been overtaken by events, as the letter confirms the former Vice President’s exit and signals the beginning of a new political chapter.

The move is expected to trigger a wave of reactions within the PDP and across Nigeria’s political landscape as opposition leaders scramble to reposition ahead of the 2027 race.

It is not yet clear how many PDP loyalists will follow Atiku to the new coalition or how the party leadership will respond to the high-profile resignation.