UPDATED: Atiku resigns from PDP

The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the 2023 general election, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has resigned his membership from the opposition party.

Atiku tendered his resignation in the build-up to the 2027 general election after admitting to the formation of a coalition party, the Alliance Democratic Congress.

The resignation was communicated in a letter dated Monday, July 14, 2025, addressed to the chairman, PDP, Jada 1 ward, Jada Local Government Area of Adamawa State.

The copy of the letter was shared on X by the Special Assistant on Media to the former Vice President, Abdul Rasheeth, on Wednesday.

The letter read, “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.

The former vice president said that the party’s crises are becoming irreconcilable, limiting their chances of competing in the forthcoming election.

“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.

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“I wish the party and its leadership all the best in the future. Thank you once again for the opportunities and support,” he said.

Earlier, Atiku’s media adviser, Paul Ibe, dispelled the rumours about his defection.

Ibe said the former Vice President remains dedicated to the ideals of the opposition party.

He referred to the rumours of Atiku’s resignation from the PDP as falsehoods and a politically motivated smear campaign.

Some online news outlet have claimed that the former Vice President has left the PDP to join another party in pursuit of his 2027 presidential ambitions.

In response, Atiku affirmed that he remains a committed, genuine, and loyal member of the party.

The statement read, “We ordinarily would not waste words on faceless social media platforms like the so-called Adamawa Happenings. However, in light of inquiries from concerned Nigerians and credible members of the press, we are compelled to set the record straight:

“His Excellency Atiku Abubakar, former Vice President of Nigeria and Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has not — we repeat, has not — resigned from the PDP. He remains a steadfast, bonafide, and loyal member of the party.

“The source of this baseless rumour is a Facebook page peddling falsehoods, evidently orchestrated by desperate political operatives with nothing but mischief and confusion on their agenda. It is a calculated attempt to mislead the public and sow discord among the millions of Nigerians who look to Atiku Abubakar for direction and leadership.”

Atiku’s aide stated that this is not only false news, but also a blatant and disgraceful political smear campaign.