.Says it’s heart-breaking decision
By Caleb Ishaya, Abuja
Amid the political alignment and re-alignment as preparations to the 2027 presidential election gathers momentum, former Vice-President of Nigeria, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has for the third time formally resigned his membership of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP with immediate effect.
Atiku, is yet to make known his new political party, but his fellow co-travellers including Labour Party, LP, chieftain and presidential candidate in the 2023 election Mr Peter Obi, former President of the Senate, Senator David Mark and former FCT Minister, Mallam Nasiru El-Rufai among others have officially adopted the African Democratic Congress,ADC, as their platform to challenge President Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid.
The former vice president in his resignation letter dated July 14 and addressed to the PDP Chairman, Jada 1 Ward, Jada Local Government Area, Adamawa State, described his decision as heart-breaking, attributing it to the irreconcilable differences within the party.
He appreciated the party for the opportunities given him, saying, “serving two full terms as Vice President of Nigeria and being a presidential candidate twice on the party’s platform has been one of the most significant chapters of my life.
He pointed out that “As a founding father of this esteemed party, it is indeed heart-breaking 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, recognising 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 said.
Although, he is yet to formally join any political party.
However, Atiku is one of the political opposition leaders that recently formed a national coalition, which had adopted the African Democratic Congress, ADC, ahead of the 2027 general elections in Nigeria.
The latest resignation is not the first rime Atiku exited the Peoples Democratic Party.
The former vice president after an uneasy relationship with his principal, then President Olusegun Obasanjo, left the PDP in 2006 for Action Congress, AC, which was later christened Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, to contest the 2007 presidential election against PDP’s Umaru Musa Yar’Adua who subsequently won the presidential election of that year.
Besides, Atiku returned, to the PDP in 2009 hoping to get the PDP presidential ticket in 2011 and was defeated by incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan.
Despite being a founding member of the PDP, the Adamawa born politician left the PDP amid the prevailing wind of the All Progressives Congress, APC, that blew many politicians to its fold in 2014 ahead of the 2015 elections.
It would be recalled that he contested for the APC presidential ticket but lost at primary level as the new Sheriff in town at that time, Muhammadu Buhari, who did not only won the ticket but defeated the incumbent President, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan in the 2015 presidential election.
Buhari, who died on Sunday July 13, 2025, keep up his winning capacity and secured the APC’s ticket for second term which ended in 2023.
Atiku returned to the PDP in 2017 and secured the PDP’s presidential ticket for the 2019 election but lost to APC’s Muhammadu Buhari, now of blessed memory.
AljazirahNigeria political correspondent in a chat with a political affair analyst cum journalist, Mr Richard Uzochukwu on the recent development about Atiku’s political decision. He drew his illustration from the “Biblical Peter and the cock crowing thrice and the denial of Jesus Christ that followed each crow”. “Atiku’s political history fits that analogy as he has ditched the party that made him who he is in politics thrice in 2006 , 2014 and 2025, this could be further likened to over zealousness or too ambitious to serve Nigeria as president”, Richard stated.We wish him luck in his political endeavors but let it be known that ex-VP Atiku by himself is writing his political history for the present and future generations of this great country.
