Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, former Vice President of Nigeria and the 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has formally resigned from the party, citing irreconcilable differences and a deviation from its founding principles.
Atiku’s resignation was made public in a letter dated Monday, July 14, 2025, and addressed to the chairman of the PDP Jada 1 Ward in Jada LGA of Adamawa State, his political base. The letter was shared on X (formerly Twitter) by his media aide on Wednesday.
“It is with a heavy heart that I resign, recognising the irreconcilable differences that have emerged,” Atiku wrote. “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.”
Alliance Democratic Congress: A New Political Path
The announcement comes just days after Atiku confirmed his involvement in a new coalition party, the Alliance Democratic Congress (ADC), which is expected to serve as a major opposition platform ahead of the 2027 general election.
Though details of the coalition remain limited, sources say the ADC will unite several political heavyweights across party lines, including disgruntled PDP and APC members who have grown disillusioned with Nigeria’s current political structure.
PDP Fallout and the Road Ahead
Atiku’s departure marks a significant blow to the PDP, which he co-founded in 1998. Once considered the party’s strongest contender against the ruling APC, Atiku’s exit further fragments Nigeria’s already volatile opposition landscape.
“The current trajectory the party has taken diverges from the foundational principles we stood for,” Atiku noted.
The PDP has yet to issue an official response.
