Five times Atiku changed party

Atiku

A former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, is no stranger to party defections. With his confirmed exit from the Peoples Democratic Party, this marks yet another turn in his political journey.

“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,” Atiku said on Wednesday in his resignation letter to the PDP.

This marks the latest in a series of high-profile switches across Nigeria’s political landscape.

Below, PUNCH Online revisits five notable times Atiku has changed parties and what motivated each move.

1999–2006: Peoples Democratic Party

In 1999, Atiku was elected governor of Adamawa State under the PDP. Before he could be sworn in, he was selected as running mate to Olusegun Obasanjo, who went on to win the presidential election. Atiku served as Vice President from 1999 to 2007.

1999-2006: PDP to Action Congress

Atiku left the PDP in 2006 following a fallout with President Obasanjo over succession plans. He joined the Action Congress to contest the 2007 presidential election. He lost to PDP’s Umaru Musa Yar’Adua.

AC – PDP (2009)

In 2009, Atiku returned to the PDP after clashing with then-AC leader and current President of Nigeria, Bola Tinubu. He sought the PDP presidential ticket in 2011 but lost to incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan.

PDP – All Progressives Congress (2014)

Ahead of the 2015 elections, Atiku again defected, this time to the newly formed APC, citing lack of internal democracy in the PDP.