Atiku Abubakar, a founding member and former vice president of Nigeria, has resigned from the Peoples Democratic Party, citing the party’s departure from its founding principles as the reason for his exit.
In a letter dated July 14, 2025, and addressed to the PDP Ward Chairman in Jada, Adamawa State, Abubakar stated that his resignation was effective immediately.
He described the decision as “heartbreaking,” recalling his role as a founding father of the PDP and his service as vice president from 1999 to 2007.
“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,” Abubakar wrote.
He cited “irreconcilable differences” within the party and expressed gratitude for the opportunities the PDP provided during his political career, including two presidential bids in 2019 and 2023.
Abubakar’s resignation comes amid growing frustration with the PDP’s internal disputes and its failure to reposition as a credible opposition after losing the 2023 presidential election to the ruling All Progressives Congress.
In recent months, Abubakar had been consulting with opposition figures across party lines and was seen as a leader of a new coalition that recently adopted the African Democratic Congress as its platform for the 2027 elections.
The PDP has yet to issue an official response to Abubakar’s resignation.