Atiku resigns from PDP, says party has derailed from its ideals

Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has resigned from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Abubakar disclosed his intention to leave the opposition party in a letter addressed to the PDP ward chairman in Jada, Jada LGA of Adamawa state.

Abubakar described his departure from the PDP as “heartbreaking”, saying the party has strayed from the ideals on which it was founded.

“I would like to take this opportunity to express my profound gratitude for the opportunities I have been given by the Party,” Abubakar said.

“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, recognising the irreconcilable differences that have emerged.

“I wish the Party and its leadership all the best in the future.”

Abubakar’s resignation from the PDP comes days after the opposition coalition politicians adopted the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as their political platform for the 2027 elections.

Among the coalition leaders are Rotimi Amaechi, a former transportation minister; Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 election; Nasir el-Rufai, former Kaduna governor; and John Oyegun, former chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Others include Sule Lamido, ex-governor of Jigawa; Uche Secondus, former PDP national chairman; Babangida Aliyu, former governor of Niger state; Sam Egwu, former governor of Ebonyi; Aminu Tambuwal, former governor of Sokoto; and Liyel Imoke, former governor of Cross River, among others.

ABUBAKAR’S DEFECTION HISTORY SINCE 1999

Abubakar, a founding member of the PDP, has defected from the party thrice since 1999. His political journey across parties has been marked by internal party conflicts and presidential ambitions.

His first defection occurred in 2006 when Abubakar left the PDP to join the Action Congress (AC), which later became the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).

This move was driven by his ambition to contest the 2007 presidential election, which he eventually lost.

In 2009, Abubakar returned to the PDP. Although some influential northern politicians backed him, he lost the primary to then President Goodluck Jonathan ahead of the 2011 elections.

In 2014, Abubakar left the party again and joined the newly formed All Progressives Congress (APC). He contested the APC presidential primary ahead of the 2015 general election but was defeated by late Muhammadu Buhari, who eventually won the presidency.

In 2017, Abubakar defected for the third time, leaving the APC and returning to the PDP. He won the PDP’s presidential ticket for the 2019 and 2023 elections but was unsuccessful in clinching the presidency.