Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has once again exited the Peoples Democratic Party, marking another chapter in his long history of party switches.
“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,” Atiku said in a letter dated July 14, 2025.
Below, PUNCH Online reviews five notable defections by Atiku and the reasons behind them:
1999–2006: Peoples Democratic Party
Atiku was elected governor of Adamawa in 1999 under the PDP but became Vice President to Olusegun Obasanjo instead.
1999–2006: PDP to Action Congress
He left PDP in 2006 after a succession rift with Obasanjo and joined AC to contest the 2007 election, which he lost.
AC – PDP (2009)
Atiku returned to PDP in 2009 after disagreements with AC leader Bola Tinubu.
PDP – All Progressives Congress (2014)
In 2014, he defected to APC, citing PDP’s lack of internal democracy.
APC – PDP (2017)
Atiku rejoined PDP in 2017 and became its 2019 and 2023 presidential candidate.
PDP – New platform (2025)
Amid PDP internal crises, Atiku and others adopted ADC to challenge President Tinubu in 2027.