Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s recent resignation from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has continued to generate reactions from political stakeholders, with some downplaying the impact of his exit on the opposition party.
Atiku, in a letter dated July 14, 2025, addressed to the chairman of the PDP Jada 1 Ward in Adamawa State, cited irreconcilable differences and the party’s deviation from its founding principles as the reason for his departure.
The former vice president, who served from 1999 to 2007 and contested the presidency under the PDP in 2019 and 2023, said he made the decision “with a heavy heart,” noting that “the party has significantly shifted away from the ideals that inspired me to join it.”
Atiku’s resignation marks his third exit from the party since 2006. He had previously defected to the now-defunct Action Congress (AC), returned to the PDP, left again in 2014 for the All Progressives Congress (APC), and came back in 2017.
However, the PDP, while yet to issue an official statement, has seen key figures play down the development, insisting that the party remains a strong political force.
PDP Chieftain: People Are Hungry, Not Bothered About Defections
A member of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC), who preferred anonymity, described the resignation as a distraction, saying Nigerians were more concerned with survival amid economic hardship.
“People are hungry and frustrated. That is what the media should focus on, not who is leaving or joining a political party,” the official said.
Efforts to speak with the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, were unsuccessful at the time of filing this report.
Makinde: PDP Is an Institution, Not About One Man
Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State also reacted to Atiku’s departure, saying the PDP remains an institution that transcends individual ambitions.
Speaking in Akure during the 10th coronation anniversary of the Deji of Akure, Oba Aladetoyinbo Aladelusi, Makinde said:
“Politics is a game of interest. Atiku leaving will not make a dent on PDP. PDP is an institution. Anybody that is not ready should give room for those who are.”
He added that while new parties may emerge, they do not necessarily threaten the PDP, which he described as still being relevant in Nigeria’s political landscape.
Bode George to Atiku: It’s Time to Retire
On his part, former PDP Deputy National Chairman, Chief Olabode George, accused Atiku of being driven by personal ambition and urged him to retire from politics.
“In 2006, he left the party and later returned. Then he left again. Now he is leaving the third time,” George told Platform Times.
“This is a clear signal that he is only concerned about himself. My advice to him, as a friend and elder brother, is that he should go home and rest.”
George said Atiku has benefitted immensely from the PDP and questioned what more he intended to achieve.
“He has been vice president for eight years, contested the presidency multiple times. What else does he want to offer Nigerians?” he asked.
He also claimed that the PDP’s new internal rules may not favour Atiku’s 2027 ambition, suggesting that the former vice president’s move may be a tactical retreat.
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