Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has officially resigned from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), citing irreconcilable differences and the party’s deviation from its founding principles. In a letter dated July 14, 2025, and addressed to his ward chairman in Adamawa State, Atiku expressed gratitude for his time in the party and the opportunities it offered, including serving as Vice President and twice running as the party’s presidential candidate. This marks the third time Atiku has exited the PDP, having left in 2007 and again in 2014 before returning in 2017.
The PDP, however, dismissed his resignation as inconsequential. A senior member of the party’s National Working Committee stated that Atiku’s departure is not new and that it should not overshadow the more pressing concerns affecting Nigerians, such as hunger and economic hardship. The official emphasized that the media should focus more on national issues rather than party defections, arguing that Atiku’s political movements have historically had little lasting impact on the party’s structure or strength.
Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde also downplayed the significance of Atiku’s resignation. Speaking in Akure, he maintained that the PDP remains an institution unaffected by the exit of any single individual. According to him, politics is a game of interest, and those dissatisfied are free to leave. He dismissed fears about potential threats from other parties like the Africa Democratic Congress (ADC), asserting that the PDP will continue to grow and adapt beyond individual ambitions.
Similarly, Chief Bode George, a former PDP Deputy National Chairman, criticized Atiku’s exit, describing it as an act driven by selfish ambition. George urged Atiku to retire from politics, suggesting that he has already achieved enough and that his repeated exits are tied more to personal gain than national interest. He stressed that Atiku’s desire to be president has overshadowed broader party or national goals and affirmed that the PDP is unlikely to welcome him back again.
