Public affairs commentator, Mahdi Shehu, has criticised former Vice President Atiku Abubakar for resigning from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), saying the move signals weakness and betrayal.
Reacting to Atiku’s resignation via a post on his verified X (formerly Twitter) account on Wednesday, July 16, 2025, Shehu said the former PDP presidential candidate has joined forces with those who have long opposed him.
“Shehu accused Atiku of abandoning the very party he helped build over the years, likening his exit to someone who decorated and maintained a house for decades, only to flee because of ‘rats infestation’.”
Atiku had in a letter dated July 14, 2025, and addressed to the PDP Chairman in his local government area of Adamawa State, said he was leaving due to “irreconcilable differences” and the party’s departure from its founding principles.
Atiku, 78, served as Nigeria’s vice president from 1999 to 2007 and has contested for president six times under different political parties including the PDP, SDP, AC, and APC. He is now aligning with a new coalition known as the Alliance Democratic Congress (ADC), ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Shehu, however, described the move as a political misstep, arguing that it would give Atiku’s longtime rivals, including former President Olusegun Obasanjo, reason to rejoice.
“By resigning to join the league of his several sworn foes, detractors and enemies, Atiku has shown he is yet to learn political survival instincts,” Shehu stated.
He added that the resignation has shaken the confidence of many PDP loyalists who saw Atiku as a major pillar in the party.
Concluding his post, Shehu quoted a popular saying: “He who fights and runs away may live to fight another day, but he who is in battle slain may never rise to fight again.”
Atiku’s exit is seen as a significant shift in Nigeria’s political landscape as preparations intensify for the 2027 general elections.