Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has formally joined the African Democratic Congress (ADC), a party adopted by a broad opposition coalition in July 2025 to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 general elections.
Atiku confirmed his new political base on Monday via his X handle, posting a photograph of himself holding the ADC membership card with the caption, “It’s official.”
On July 14, 2025, Atiku formally resigned from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), citing irreconcilable differences and a loss of faith in the party’s direction, though he had, through his media team, alleged that his resignation letter was leaked.
READ ALSO: Atiku Denies Plans to Withdraw from 2027 Presidential Race
The coalition initially intended to form a new party, the All Democratic Alliance (ADA), but due to delays in registration with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), they chose to adopt the existing ADC platform instead.
His move marks the latest shift in a long and eventful political journey that has seen him contest presidential elections multiple times under different platforms.
Timeline Of Atiku Abubakar’s Political Journey
- Entry: Atiku Abubakar was a founding member of the PDP in 1998. After winning the governorship election in Adamawa State in December 1998, he was selected as the running mate to the presidential candidate, Olusegun Obasanjo.
- Role: He served two full terms as Nigeria’s vice president from May 29, 1999, to May 29, 2007.
- Exit: He left the PDP in September 2006 following a major fallout with President Obasanjo, largely due to Obasanjo’s alleged bid for a third term and internal party conflicts. He then joined the Action Congress (AC) to pursue his own presidential aspirations for the 2007 election.
- Entry: After contesting the 2007 election under the AC and losing, he returned to the PDP in 2010, after President Umaru Yar’adua’s death, with the intention of contesting the 2011 presidential primaries.
- Role: He competed for the 2011 presidential ticket but lost to the incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan. He grew distant from the party after this, and internal crises deepened.
- Exit: He once again left the PDP on February 2, 2014, to join the newly formed All Progressives Congress (APC), ahead of the 2015 general election.
- Entry: After losing the APC presidential primary to Muhammadu Buhari in 2014, Atiku announced his exit from the APC on November 24, 2017, and officially returned to the PDP on December 3, 2017. He stated he was “returning home” as the issues that made him leave had been resolved.
- Role: He secured the PDP presidential candidacy for the 2019 general election, which he lost to President Buhari. In May 2022, he again emerged as the PDP’s presidential candidate for the 2023 election, where he lost to Bola Tinubu.
- Exit: In a letter dated July 14, 2025, Atiku formally resigned from the PDP, citing the party’s deviation from its founding principles and its failure to serve as a proper opposition. He has since joined the African Democratic Congress (ADC) to pursue his 2027 presidential ambition.
- November 24, 2025: Atiku officially joined the African Democratic Congress (ADC)
Atiku Abubakar’s political career is fundamentally a decades-long pursuit of the Nigerian presidency, defined by strategic and often high-stakes political migrations.
As the 2027 race draws nearer, Atiku’s long-running presidential ambition, which he has never publicly renounced, is believed to have shaped his choice of platform. With the ADC seeking national relevance and Atiku seeking a viable path to remain competitive, the partnership is already reshaping early calculations for the next general election.
The alliance offers him a fresh vehicle and gives the ADC a national figure capable of elevating its profile. But whether this strategic move will finally deliver the victory that has eluded him for decades or reinforce his image as a determined contender whose repeated recalibrations have fallen short of the ultimate prize is a question only the outcome of the 2027 presidential election will answer.
Rafiyat Sadiq is a political, justice, and human rights reporter with Pinnacle Daily, known for fearless reporting and impactful storytelling. At Pinnacle Daily, she brings clarity and depth to issues shaping governance, democracy, and the protection of citizens’ rights.
