Yesterday, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar officially resigned from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). His exit has once again stirred Nigeria’s political landscape adding a new chapter to a long history of party defections spanning nearly three decades.
A Timeline of Atiku’s Defection Since 1999″ traces the former vice president’s journey through Nigeria’s major political parties, revealing a pattern of strategic exits and comebacks shaped by electoral ambition and internal party dynamics.
2006 – First Exit: PDP to AC
Atiku’s first notable defection came in 2006 following a fallout with then-President Olusegun Obasanjo over succession plans. He left the PDP and joined the Action Congress (AC) to contest the 2007 presidential election. However, his bid was unsuccessful, as he lost to PDP candidate Umaru Musa Yar’Adua.
2009 – Return to PDP
Following disagreements with AC leader Bola Tinubu, Atiku returned to the PDP in 2009. He contested the PDP’s presidential primaries for the 2011 election but was defeated by then-President Goodluck Jonathan.
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2014 – Shift to APC
Dissatisfied with the PDP’s internal processes, Atiku jumped ship again in 2014, joining the newly formed All Progressives Congress (APC). He participated in the party’s primaries ahead of the 2015 general elections but lost to Muhammadu Buhari.
2017 – Back to PDP
Just three years later, Atiku rejoined the PDP, accusing the APC of unfulfilled promises and marginalization. He clinched the PDP presidential ticket for the 2019 elections but suffered another loss to incumbent President Buhari.
2025 – The Coalition Move
In the latest twist, Atiku has exited the PDP yet again amid internal party crises and the fallout from its defeat in the 2023 elections. Although he has not officially declared a new party affiliation, Atiku and other opposition leaders, including Peter Obi and David Mark, have reportedly adopted the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as a coalition platform to challenge President Bola Tinubu in 2027.
Atiku’s political journey paints the portrait of a resilient, albeit controversial, figure in Nigerian politics. As the country inches toward the next general election, observers are closely watching to see whether this coalition effort can upend the political status quo or whether it will be another chapter in Atiku’s long quest for the presidency.