Former Vice President of Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar, has formally resigned from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), ending a decades-long association with the party he helped to establish. In a letter dated July 14, 2025, addressed to the PDP Chairman of Jada 1 Ward in Adamawa State, Atiku announced his immediate withdrawal from the party.
In his resignation letter, Atiku expressed gratitude for the roles he has held under the PDP, including two terms as Vice President and two presidential candidacies. However, he stated that the party has drifted away from the founding principles that once united its members, and cited irreconcilable differences as the reason for his departure.
Atiku’s decision comes amid growing signs of political realignment ahead of the 2027 general elections. He has now joined a new coalition under the African Democratic Congress (ADC), which is positioning itself as a strong alternative to the current political establishment.
The new coalition includes several influential political figures from various backgrounds and former rival parties. Among them are Peter Obi, former Labour Party presidential candidate; Nasir El-Rufai, former governor of Kaduna State; David Mark, former Senate President; Rotimi Amaechi, former Minister of Transportation; and Rauf Aregbesola, former governor and cabinet minister.
This alliance, uniting prominent figures across Nigeria’s political spectrum, is seen as a major shift in the country’s political landscape. The move is widely interpreted as a strategic effort to build a credible third-force bloc capable of challenging both the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the PDP in the next election cycle.
Atiku’s departure from the PDP marks a significant turning point not only in his political career but also in the evolving structure of Nigeria’s opposition movement.
