Atiku Abubakar Resigns From PDP Over ‘Irreconcilable Differences’

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has resigned from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), citing irreconcilable differences with the party’s current direction.

In a letter dated July 14, 2025, addressed to the PDP chairman in his home ward, Jada 1, in Adamawa State, Atiku said the decision to resign was painful but necessary.

Atiku, who is a former presidential candidate of the PDP in 2023 general election, explained that the party no longer aligns with the ideals it was built upon.

He expressed appreciation for the roles he held under the PDP, including his time as Nigeria’s Vice President and twice as the party’s presidential candidate.

However, he said the growing disconnect between the party’s current path and its founding principles left him no choice but to step away.

The letter reads, “I am writing to formally resign my membership from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) with immediate effect.

“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. As a founding father of this esteemed Party, it is indeed heartbreaking for me to make this decision.

“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. Thank you once again for the opportunities and support.”

Atiku Abubakar served as Vice President under President Olusegun Obasanjo from 1999 to 2007 and ran for president under the PDP in both 2019 and 2023. He lost to Muhammadu Buhari in 2019 and to Bola Tinubu in the 2023 election.

His resignation comes shortly after he and other major opposition figures aligned with the African Democratic Congress (ADC), a new platform they hope to use to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 elections.