Atiku’s Exit From PDP Ignites Debates As ADC Gathers Weight

…Former ADP Presidential Aspirant, Others Join ADC

…Coalition Party Battling With Identity Crisis, Says Presidency

LAGOS / ABUJA – Chief Martin Onovo, a sea­soned politician and 2015 presidential candidate of the National Conscience Party (NCP), has slammed former vice president, Atiku Abubakar, over his recent and third defection from the Peoples Democratic Party which he helped found.

He said Atiku’s resignation from the PDP seems selfish and escapist, especially because he may have re­alized that the party would in the next presidentially election most likely field a Southern candidate.

Onovo, currently Head, Policy Positions, Movement for Funda­mental Change (MFC), stated: “From the public positions of lead­ing members of the PDP like Chief Bode George and His Excellency Samuel Ortom, the PDP will likely zone its presidential candidacy to the South.

“His is not acceptable to Atiku, who is now a champion of sectional domination and perpetual personal presidential candidacy.

“Atiku’s desperation for perpetu­al presidential candidacy led to the factionalisation of the PDP and his desperate interest again can lead to the factionalisation of the Afri­can Democratic Congress (ADC) coalition.

“Atiku’s strategists may be unin­formed, incompetent or deceitful to him. If not, they must let him know that at almost eighty years old, he is too old and that the overwhelming majority of young voters want a much younger candidate.

“Atiku can be better off in ADC if he will dump his divisive over-ambition that led to his failure in PDP and promote his preferred southern candidate.

“It seems clearly treacherous for Atiku, a member of the original G34 that agreed on the rotational political principle for Nigeri­an unity to be the arch viola­tor of the same principle.”

Chief Emeka Charles Kalu, the Director General, Global Initiatives For Good Gover­nance (GIGG), who also spoke to Sunday Independent, said the present trajectory under which the affairs of the PDP is being run, actually influenced, but not limited to the salient reason for Atiku’s exit from the party .

Dr Kalu, a close associate of the former vice president and until recently, the National Co­ordinator, Peoples Democratic Party Coalition (PDPCO), said: “The spate of internal crisis plaguing the main opposition party provided the ground for most respected stakeholders of the party to find their exit doors.

“Not only Alhaji Atiku Abu­bakar resigned from the party, but also a media mogul and one-time presidential aspirant, Chief Dele Momodu, had left the party and in a few weeks to come, others would follow suit.

“That tells you how political­ly bastardised the PDP has be­come, thereby leaving no hope for those intending to run for one political office or the other under the party’s flag, to seek alternative means of achieving their ambitions.”

Kalu, an aspirant for the Abia North Senatorial Seat, continued: “In view of the above, it is evident that Atiku’s exit from the party will not only negatively affect the fortunes of the party, but will also subject its leadership nucleus to mock­ery, sabotage and despondency.

“As it stands, PDP is not a pathway for winning election in Nigeria since the entire leadership framework bearing the strength of the party, has been weakened, ridiculed and sabotaged.

“Take it this way; a political party with a weak structure cannot win elections.”

Kalu, President/CEO, Eck Foundation, went on: “On July 3, 2025, I also resigned my mem­bership of the party by formally communicating in writing the ward Chairman of the party in Bende Local Government Area of Abia State, though my resignation was primarily punctuated by reasons different from that of Atiku and Dele Mo­modu, as I personally decided to take a bow to watch how situa­tions unfold.

“PDP may not easily believe what is currently happening until the ruling APC under the machination of its hired mercenaries finally collapses the party in favour of the APC, thereby deleting the name of People’s Democratic Party from the nation’s political landscape.

“Once the largest party in Af­rica, may in a few months disap­pear into thin air as a result of reckless act of selfishness and inordinate desires of one man who sees himself as a demi-god to be worshipped in the shrine of autocracy and power drunk­enness.

“In all, I am very much confident in Atiku getting his political ambitions right in the new opposition coalition, be­cause the ADC is set to unseat Tinubu whose leadership has enmeshed Nigerians in poverty and economic hardship.

“In the new party, Atiku is expected to strike a deal as his prominence in the politi­cal space thrills heart. This is because he enjoys the loyalty and support of most Nigerian youths and as a detribalised citizen ready to sacrifice his garnered experience in the public sector administration to transform and reshape the country, the possibility of his emerging the party’s presiden­tial standard bearer is high and he remains the only president of northern extraction capable of relinquishing power to Igbo nation to foster unity and bal­ance of power in the country.

“Therefore, I am optimistic that power will change hands ahead of the upcoming general elections and with the new coa­lition on board, a new Nigeria under Atiku’s presidency is realistic.”

Barrister Olalekan F. Ojo, a Lagos-based human rights law­yer, said the recent resignation of former Vice President Ati­ku Abubakar from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) marks a significant turning point in Nigeria’s political landscape.

Barrister Ojo, the Managing Partner, Platinum & Taylor Hill LP, a leading law firm in Nige­ria, stressed: “Atiku’s exit, given his stature, network, and histo­ry as a five-time presidential aspirant, undoubtedly weakens the PDP, both symbolically and structurally.

“For over two decades, Ati­ku has been a dominant force within the PDP. His deep war chest, pan-Nigerian political reach, and experience in navi­gating national elections, have always given the party strategic leverage, especially during pres­idential contests.

“His departure, therefore, not only drains PDP of a formi­dable political asset, but could also create fractures among party loyalists, particularly in the North-East and parts of the South-South, where he com­mands considerable grassroots support.

“That said, whether Atiku will fare better in the African Democratic Congress (ADC), depends on several factors. ADC remains a relatively fringe par­ty in terms of national presence and political infrastructure.

“For Atiku to thrive there, he would have to almost sin­gle-handedly elevate the party’s profile, unify its diverse inter­ests, and attract broad-based co­alitions capable of challenging the APC.

“It is not impossible, but it will require more than popular­ity — it will demand strategic reinvention, ideological clarity, and youth engagement.

“While Atiku’s departure is a blow to the PDP, it also opens a new chapter for Nigeria’s op­position politics. If he can use the ADC platform to galvanise a true third-force movement, beyond personality politics, he may yet reshape Nigeria’s dem­ocratic future.

“But, that is a tall order in a terrain where institutions re­main weak and political capital is still heavily party-centric.”

Barrister Emeka Iheonu, an­other Lagos lawyer stated: “The resignations of Atiku and other notable PDP bigwigs like Dele Momodu will affect the party as the foremost opposition party.

“However, Alhaji Atiku will not find it easy in ADC. It will be tough for him to emerge as the party’s presidential flag bearer in the 2027 elections.

“There are other formidable politicians who have joined the ADC.”

Hon. Dennis Adikwuru, a People’s Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain in Imo State, stated that Atiku’s resignation from PDP is shocking and seems to be the last straw in the efforts to restore PDP to full life.

Adikwuru, a member of Imo State Presidential Campaign Council under Media and Pub­licity Sub-committee in the 2023 elections and erstwhile State Publicity Secretary, Imo State Professionals for Atiku, how­ever, said he still sees a future for PDP to jet back to life and return to power.

Adikwuru, also the State Co­ordinator, Imo PDP Grassroots Movement, stated: “It is not yet the end of the PDP. As for Atiku moving to ADC, I do not think it is going to be all roses for him, in fact, every other aspirant under the ADC platform.

“ADC is going to experience hiccups arising from internal party crises orchestrated by APC, using gullible party offi­cials to ferment trouble, which will linger for a long time.

“Apart from that, subsisting members of ADC may not allow easy sail of the incoming poli­ticians, hence the likelihood of a new phase of lingering party crises.

“It appears to me that PDP is still the party to fall back to despite the crises which are getting to final resolution soon.”

REGRETABLE DEFECTION

PDP chieftain from Imo State, Hon. Dennis Adikwuru, said the news of Abubakar Ati­ku’s defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the African Democratic Congress (ADC) was not a surprise though it is regrettable.

Speaking exclusively with Sunday Independent at the weekend, Adikwuru, a com­munication expert, maintained that Atiku’s exit from PDP was a big regret and an avoidable exit.

Adikwuru, a member of Imo State Presidential Campaign Council under Media and Pub­licity Sub-Committee in the 2023 elections and erstwhile State Publicity Secretary, Imo State Professionals for Atiku, who spoke exclusively with Sunday Independent lamented that the PDP’s fence mending mecha­nisms could not stop the former Vice President from defecting from the party.

He said: “This is because Ati­ku did his best to put PDP back on stream, but it did not work out. Atiku’s exit from PDP is a huge loss and definitely, it will affect the party in no small way.

“On the death of former President Buhari, I do not see much, if any impact on his Con­gress for Progressive Change (CPC) bloc and All Progressives Congress (APC) in general.

“Even while serving his last tenure, especially during the elections, Buhari could not assert any influence, let alone authority, and his popularity had waned since leaving office.

“So, there seems to be noth­ing significantly affected by Bu­hari’s death. Talking about his CPC bloc moving over to ADC, it is the current wave everywhere, but while the euphoria lasts, we shall carefully observe the solidity of the new sensation, the ADC.”

THE SILVER LINING

In its contribution, the East­ern Union (EU), an umbrella body of the people of the Old Eastern Region, has described Atiku’s resignation as a good omen for the party.

The Eastern Union, in a detailed statement signed by its National President, Hon. Charles Anike, made available to Sunday Independent in La­gos, maintained that the former Vice President had been the PDP’s problem since the party’s inception.

According to the Eastern Union, Atiku’s alleged greed for power had been for long and had no boundaries and adversely contributed to the downfall of the once ruling party in partic­ular and the country at large.

It stressed: “His resignation is necessary for the party to enjoy peace once again. After all, this was not his first time of leaving the party to gang up with other political bandits, who also hitherto lost relevance among the people.

“Atiku is a political liability to any party and his wish is that Nigeria and its citizens remain in bondage, as long as his un­achievable, inordinate ambition is not realised.

“Recall that Atiku led some disgruntled elements in PDP out of the party to join forces with age-long, almost frustrat­ed political crooks and vultures that overthrew the ruling party, but returned again after they got their pieces disappointed from their new marriage then.

“Ever since their return, the PDP has not known or enjoyed genuine peace, the reason being that Atiku would always want to be the presidential flag bearer of the party by hook and crook.”

The Western Union main­tained that what everybody had expected from Atiku was to voluntarily retire from politics and not just a resignation from the PDP.

MORE OPPOSITION MEMBERS JOIN ADC

On the heels of Atiku’s defec­tion to the ADC, more opposi­tion elements have moved over to the new political tent.

A former presidential aspi­rant of the Action Democratic Party (ADP), Mathias Baba Tsado, has led other opposition figures in the Gbako Local Gov­ernment Area of Niger State to the coalition African Democrat­ic Congress (ADC).

Tsado, who aspired to Ni­geria’s presidency in the 2019 election, along with other oppo­sition stakeholders, announced the move to the ADC coalition during a ceremony attended by a massive crowd of supporters on Saturday, July 19, in the Gba­ko Local Government Area of Niger State.

The event, attended by em­inent political stakeholders in the area, including Alhaji Idris Gimba Tswatagi, a former coun­cil chairman of Gbako LGA and Alhaji Zibairu Ndasabe Edozhi­gi, also the former PDP chair­man of Gbako LGA, marked a significant milestone in the politics of the state.

ADC’s IDENTITY CRISIS

Regardless of the bourgeon­ing status of the ADC, the Pres­idency, on Saturday, lashed back at the party over its criticism of President Bola Tinubu’s role in the burial of his predecessor, Muhammadu Buhari.

Special Adviser to the Pres­ident on Media & Public Com­munications, Sunday Dare, ridiculed the ADC, saying it was still battling with an identity cri­sis, hence would want to pick on Tinubu to criticise any laudable move he makes.

According to Dare, the lat­est outburst from the ADC regarding former President Buhari’s state burial is nothing but an opportunistic exercise in manufactured outrage — a laughable tantrum by a poorly amalgamated political con­traption desperately clutching at straws for relevance it will never attain.

This is not the first time the ADC — in its pitiful, stuttering attempts at reinvention — has embarrassed itself with hollow, attention-seeking criticisms and press releases. A party still grappling with an identity crisis presumes lecturing the Presi­dent of the Federal Republic on governance, decorum, and public accountability. How ut­terly ridiculous.

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