Acting National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ambassador Iliya Damagum, in reaction to the resignation of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar from the party, hinted that Atiku may soon return.
“This is not the first time; we’re expecting him back,” Damagum told journalists in Bauchi on Friday.
Dockaysworld reports that Mr Atiku Abubakar has a long history of defecting and returning to the PDP. He first left the party in 2006 to join the Action Congress (AC), where he contested the 2007 presidential election. Atiku returned to the PDP in 2009, only to leave again in 2014 for the All Progressives Congress (APC). In December 2017, he came back to the PDP, where he emerged as the party’s presidential candidate for the 2019 and 2023 general elections.
Damagum described his most recent departure as part of Atiku’s usual political routine and appeared to suggest that it is only a temporary break.
Recall that Atiku had, in his resignation letter dated July 14, 2025, addressed to the PDP chairman of Jada 1 Ward in Adamawa State, cited the “current trajectory of the party” as the reason for his defection.
The party has been dealing with an internal leadership crisis over its National Secretary position. Lower courts had earlier recognised Sunday Udeh-Okoye, leading to a dispute with Samuel Anyanwu, who was recently reinstated as secretary following a Supreme Court judgement.
Atiku is now a leading figure in the newly formed African Democratic Congress (ADC) coalition designed to unite opposition politicians ahead of the 2027 elections. The coalition was unveiled earlier in the month.
The ADC adopted its interim leadership team at the July unveiling in Abuja. Former Senate President David Mark was named interim chairman, while ex-Governor Rauf Aregbesola and Bolaji Abdullahi were appointed interim secretary and spokesperson, respectively.
It has received backing from several leaders of both the PDP and APC, particularly in northern Nigeria, where many loyalists of the late former President Muhammadu Buhari have joined the coalition platform.
Among those being considered as potential flagbearers is Atiku including 2023 presidential election second runner-up Peter Obi, and former Minister of Transportation and ex-Governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi.
