The All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have dismissed former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s resignation from the PDP and his move to the coalition platform, the African Democratic Congress, to challenge President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 election as posing no threat.

In a letter dated July 14, 2025 and addressed to the Chairman of his Ward, Jada 1 in Adamawa State, Atiku formally announced his resignation from the PDP.

Since 1999, Atiku has left the PDP on three different occasions — each time to further his presidential ambition.

In 2006, ahead of the 2007 presidential election, he defected to the Action Congress. In February 2014, he again left the PDP for the newly formed APC before his latest defection to the ADC.

Atiku and several opposition leaders have continued to criticise the ruling APC for failing to provide effective governance.

Consequently, on July 1, Atiku, former 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi, APC 2023 presidential aspirant Rotimi Amaechi, former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, and others adopted the ADC as a unified opposition platform to challenge President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 election.

As part of the coalition’s formation, they named former Senate President David Mark as interim National Chairman and former Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola as interim National Secretary.

Atiku, who was the PDP’s presidential candidate in the 2019 and 2023 elections, stated that his decision to resign was prompted by the direction the party was currently heading, which he believed no longer aligned with its founding ideals.

The letter obtained by The PUNCH on Wednesday read in part, “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.

“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.

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

When reached for comment, Atiku’s media aide, Paul Ibe, confirmed that the former Vice President had left the PDP.

He stated, “Yes, it is true he has left the PDP.”

On where Atiku was heading, Ibe added, “The important thing is that he has left the PDP. That will be communicated letter.”

However, a reliable source within the former Vice President’s camp, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to lack of authorization to speak on the matter, confirmed to The PUNCH that Atiku was moving to the ADC to pursue his presidential ambition.

He said, “Of course, he’s heading to the ADC. He will formally register and declare his presidential ambition in the coming days.”

Reacting, Oyo State Governor and member of the PDP Governors Forum, Seyi Makinde, said the departure of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar would not pose any setback for the PDP.

Makinde stated this in Akure on Wednesday during an interview with journalists after delivering the keynote address at a colloquium held to commemorate the 10th coronation anniversary of Oba Aladetoyinbo Aladelusi, the Deji of Akure.

“I don’t think that will make any dent on PDP as a party. PDP is an institution and you have freedom of entrance and exit,” he said.

Chief Bode George, a member of the PDP Board of Trustees, attributed former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s decision to leave the party to what he described as an excessive ambition to become Nigeria’s President in 2027.

In an exclusive interview with The PUNCH, however, Bode George said, “It (Atiku’s resignation) is very shocking to me. I have been praying that the Almighty God will work on his mind and allow him to reflect very deeply and do a very deep-rooted introspection of his political life. He has walked this path before. He joined Bola Tinubu, but they deceived him, and he ran back to the PDP.

“He is no longer a young man. What I can decipher is that this ambition to be President has taken over his inner strength and thoughts. As a leader of this party, he should realise that what we do in the PDP is zoning. Eight years in the North and eight years in the South. He knows for sure that he cannot get our presidential ticket in 2027. He has to wait until 2031.

“We don’t have the power to prevent anybody from taking the ticket of another party, but in PDP, no sir. We must obey our constitution. They manipulated the constitution in the past, and all those who participated in that process have headed to the ADC.”

Reacting to the reasons given by Atiku to justify his resignation, the retired Navy Commodore asked, “Who created the mess that Atiku is talking about? He would have been President since 2007 when Baba Obasanjo left. He was the Vice President, but he was perpetually deceived by Bola Tinubu. He was working with Tinubu to make sure Obasanjo did only one term.

“When he led the team that walked out of our national convention and joined Tinubu’s party, what was he thinking? When they were beaten mercilessly, he returned home. Who is Atiku deceiving? I urge his children to tell their father that enough is enough.

“By 2027, he would be 81. What does he want to do at 81? He should start preparing grounds for the young ones to take over. The PDP honoured and mentored him. He was number two for eight years. What does he want? Is he the only one in this country?”

Adamawa PDP celebrate

Meanwhile, members of the Adamawa State chapter of the PDP celebrated the departure of Atiku Abubakar from the party.

Speaking with The PUNCH on Wednesday in Yola, the state capital, several party leaders described Atiku’s exit as a positive development and a major boost for the PDP ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The state party chairman, Tahir Shehu, stated that Atiku’s departure carries no political setback for the party.

He stated, “Adamawa State is the home state of PDP, Atiku himself won governorship election in 1999 on the platform of the party, it was based on that he was elevated to the position of Vice President.

“The only time PDP lost the state was under President Goodluck Jonathan in 2015, when a candidate was selected in Abuja, so we rejected it at the poll to prove that Adamawa voters are not based in Abuja.”

Shehu noted that following the previous crisis, the PDP successfully regained its mandate in 2019 and remained firmly in control under Governor Ahmadu Fintiri, making it unbeatable in the 2027 elections.

He emphasised that Atiku’s departure would have no impact on the party’s strength in the state, given the overwhelming support it enjoyed from the people.

Similarly, a prominent party chieftain from Michika Local Government Area, Luka Tumba, described the former Vice President’s exit as a divine answer to their prayers.

“He has been an obstacle to the party during election time; the Adamawa people have not seen his political relevance from the days he was vice president and now.

“The road from Mayo-Belwa to his hometown Jada was constructed by late former President Muhammadu Buhari, but he has his private businesses across the world, we must do thanksgiving for God answering our prayers for Atiku’s timely exit.”

‘Atiku political wanderer’

In response, APC National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, accused Atiku of being motivated by personal ambition.

Morka, in post on his verified X account on Wednesday, stated, “Yet again, Atiku uses his revolving door out of the PDP, for the third time, all in his desperate but ever elusive search for the presidential Golden Fleece.

“Indisputably, the weakest link in Nigeria’s partisan democracy, Atiku is driven only by his selfish and obsessive presidential ambition, never willing to put in the work to build his party or remain to solve its internal crises, but claims a birthright entitlement to presidential ticket of his party to the exclusion of all others, congratulations, Nigeria’s incomparable political wanderer.”

APC Director of Publicity, Bala Ibrahim, described Atiku as a habitual contestant and perennial loser.

In an exclusive interview with The PUNCH, Ibrahim stated that Atiku lacked the principles required to lead Nigeria.

He stated, “Well, we’ve said so many times without number, Atiku is not a politician. He is a contestant. He is a serial loser. He is permanently aspiring for political office, and that office is the Office of The President.

“He will move from any platform to another platform, provided he feels that platform will propel him to the Presidency. And he will still lose.

“So, you can see that he is not a man of political principles. He’s not a man of political ideology. He’s just a man that is interested in one thing, and one thing only — power.”

Keyamo knocks ex-VP

The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo accused Atiku of trying to steal the spotlight by diverting Nigerians’ attention from mourning former President Muhammadu Buhari.

Keyamo, in a strongly worded statement on Wednesday, described Atiku’s defection as “clearly an attempt to draw the spotlight away from such a solemn occasion and direct it on yourself.”

Keyamo, a member of the ruling APC, added, “Whilst I acknowledge that it is within your constitutional right to change political parties at any time you may wish, releasing your letter of resignation from the PDP during this week of mourning is, with respect, self-serving.”

He accused Atiku of being “obsessed” with his presidential ambition, suggesting that his political ambitions override empathy or decorum in times of national grief.

Additionally, Keyamo faulted Atiku’s use of the Nigerian Coat of Arms in his resignation letter.

He pointed out that Atiku, having left public office over 18 years ago, was not legally permitted to use national symbols in personal or political correspondence saying “Section 6 of the Flag and Coat of Arms Act, Cap. F30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 makes this an offence; it is morally and legally wrong.”

The minister further warned that continued misuse of national symbols by former public officials could lead to confusion and misrepresentation of authority.

He added, “It borders on impersonation, please, be well guided.”

Likewise, former Minister of Communication, Adebayo Shittu, stated that Atiku’s defection would have no impact on the APC’s prospects in the 2027 elections.

Shittu, in an exclusive interview with The PUNCH, stated, “Of course, I heard about his defection. Although he may have taken advantage of the death of Buhari to sway some northern loyalists’ support, it will have no effect on the chances of the APC at the next poll. I don’t think so at all.”

Responding to Atiku’s reported move to join the ADC, the coalition party’s spokesperson, Bolaji Abdullahi, said they were thrilled by the development.

He stated, “Well, I mean, for us, we are excited to have someone like the former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, formally join.

“I mean, as you know, it is an open secret that Atiku Abubakar has been part of the coalition from the start. (The PUNCH)