Former Vice President of Nigeria and founding member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has officially resigned from the party. In a letter dated July 14, 2025, addressed to the PDP Chairman in his home ward of Jada Local Government Area in Adamawa State, Atiku said his decision was “heartbreaking” but necessary.
Atiku, who served as Vice President from 1999 to 2007 and was the PDP’s presidential candidate in 2019 and 2023, said the party has strayed from its original path.
“The current trajectory the Party has taken,” he wrote, “diverges from the foundational principles we stood for.” He added that the differences were now “irreconcilable.”
Atiku expressed gratitude to the PDP for the roles he played under its platform but said he could no longer continue as a member.
“As a founding father of this esteemed Party, it is indeed heartbreaking for me to make this decision,” the letter read.
Atiku is currently part of a broader opposition coalition, but he did not mention his next political move in the letter.
His exit adds to the growing crisis within the PDP, which has been struggling with internal divisions and declining public support since losing power in 2015.
Political analysts say Atiku’s departure is a major blow to the PDP, especially as preparations begin for the 2027 general elections.