PDP Plunges Into Flagbearer Battle as Atiku Abubakar Exits Party for ADC Coalition

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been thrown into a fresh battle for its presidential ticket following the official resignation of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who has now aligned with the African Democratic Congress (ADC) to form a new opposition coalition ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Atiku’s departure from the PDP, his third such exit, was formalized in a letter dated July 14, 2025, where he cited “irreconcilable differences” and a profound loss of faith in the party’s current direction. His move signals a significant realignment in Nigeria’s political landscape, creating a vacuum at the top of the PDP and sparking an immediate scramble for who will emerge as the party’s flagbearer.

The veteran politician is reportedly poised to lead a formidable new alliance under the ADC banner, bringing together key figures such as Peter Obi of the Labour Party and potentially other influential politicians like former governors Nasir El-Rufai and Rotimi Amaechi. This grand coalition aims to present a united front to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the next presidential election.

Atiku’s exit underscores the persistent divisions that have plagued the PDP since the 2023 general elections. The party has struggled to regain cohesion following a bitter fallout over its presidential primary, which saw Atiku, a Northerner, emerge as the candidate, contravening an informal rotational presidency agreement that favored a Southern candidate after President Muhammadu Buhari’s two terms. This controversy led to a significant fracturing of party unity, notably with the ‘G5 governors’ who championed a Southern presidency.

With Atiku, who has been the PDP’s consistent presidential candidate in recent cycles (2019, 2023), now out of the picture, the party faces the immediate challenge of identifying and unifying behind a new leader. While no new aspirants have officially declared for the 2027 PDP ticket in the immediate aftermath of Atiku’s departure, political analysts anticipate a fierce contest, particularly among prominent Southern politicians who may now see a clearer path to the party’s top ticket. There had been previous reports of the party actively wooing figures like former President Goodluck Jonathan to consider a 2027 run, indicating the party’s search for a strong contender.

The PDP’s National Working Committee is expected to confront urgent questions regarding internal restructuring, zoning arrangements, and a strategy to present a unified and compelling front to Nigerians. As the nation steadily approaches the 2027 elections, all eyes will be on the PDP to see how it navigates this significant shift in its power dynamics and attempts to reclaim its footing as a formidable opposition force.