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By Myke Agunwa
Atiku Abubakar’s presidential ambition has been a defining feature of his political career, spanning over three decades. His ill-fated journey reflects the complexities in the country’s political landscape but his determination and belief in his capacity to lead, has pushed him to try his electoral fortune with several political parties.
Despite several unsuccessful attempts, the former Vice President remains a formidable political figure with significant influence in the nations politics. Unfortunately, his legacies are often clouded by perceptions of restless ambition, frequent party switches, and lack of ideological depth, making him both a prominent contender and a symbol of Nigeria’s fluid and unstable political culture where leaders are often fixated at winning an election than delivering good governance.
Atiku in Social Democratic Party (SDP).
Atiku, a political son of late Shehu Musa Yar’adua, came into limelight during the era of Social Democratic Party (SDP) between 1992 – 1993.
In 1993, he contested the SDP presidential primary alongside late Chief M.K.O. Abiola and Babagana Kingibe but later stepped down for Abiola after being persuaded by his political mentor, Yar’Adua.
It was expected that he will be picked as running mate but Abiola picked Banagana Kingibe instead, a shock Atiku is yet to recover from. Abiola argued that despite the controversy of Muslim-Muslim ticket, Kingibe had broader national appeal and stronger backing across SDP factions. Abiola also faced pressure from other party leaders who felt that Atiku was still politically young and that Yar’Adua’s group was becoming too dominant in the national stage.
Atiku Joins Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)
In 1998, after the return of democracy, former President Olusegun Obasanjo chose him as his running mate to enable him harvest the political vestiges of the Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM) founded by late Yar’adua and controlled by Atiku.
Atiku who became very powerful in the administration, later fell out of favour with Obasanjo primarily because of his opposition to his third term agenda.
Aware that Obasanjo was not favourably disposed to him as a successor, Atiku quickly contacted President Bola Tinubu, the founder of the then Action Congress (AC) where he got the presidential ticket for the 2007 general election but lost to Umar Yar’Adua (PDP) as he came third behind former President Muhammadu Buhari of All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP).
Atiku Returns to PDP
He later resigned his membership of the AC and returned to PDP, stating that his efforts to build a strong national opposition party have been frustrated by factionalisation, intrigues and divided loyalties to particular individuals.
In his resignation letter, dated April 6 2007, he stated that opposition parties were incapable of rising to the challenges of national leadership.
“No doubt, I owe a debt of gratitude to the leaders of AC for inviting me to be their presidential candidate in the 2007 presidential election, after I reluctantly left my party following my unjust expulsion,” he said in the letter.
Atiku Moves to APC
In 2013, Atiku opposed Jonathan’s bid for a second term, arguing that it violated the party’s zoning agreement. At the PDP special convention in August 2013, Atiku and seven governors staged a dramatic walkout, citing impunity, lack of internal democracy, and marginalization. They later formed a splinter faction known as the “New PDP,” demanding reforms. When their grievances were ignored, Atiku and five governors—Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers), Rabiu Kwankwaso (Kano), Aliyu Wamakko (Sokoto), Murtala Nyako (Adamawa) Abdulfatah Ahmed (Kwara) and defected to the newly formed All Progressives Congress (APC). This move strengthened the APC’s political base and helped galvanize a formidable opposition ahead of the 2015 elections.
Announcing his defection to the APC, Atiku said: “Following the extensive consultative process, I have, therefore, decided to cast my lot with APC, a party of change committed to the improvement of the lives of our people and to the continued existence and development of Nigeria as one indivisible country. My resignation letter as a member of PDP will be delivered to the party tomorrow.”
But a political observer Yakubu Saidu observed that the defection of Atiku from the PDP to the APC can go both ways. “From Atiku’s political history, he seems to be a man determined to get what he wants. I think it is too early for the APC to celebrate. If Atiku can dump the party he helped to build, it may not be difficult to do worse to a party he joined mid-way.”
Atiku contested the APC primary in Lagos and lost to former President Muhammadu Bhuari who was backed by Tinubu. Buhari eventually defeated Jonathan at the polls.
Their defection severely weakened the PDP and played a key role in emergence of Muhammadu Buhari, making it the first democratic transfer of power from a ruling party in Nigeria’s history.
In 2017, he returned to the PDP citing lack of internal democracy, and the failure of the APC government to fulfill its campaign promises.
In a live Facebook interaction, Atiku announce his return to PDP Atiku stating, “From today, I want to let you know that I am returning home to the PDP as the issue that led me to leave it has now been resolved.
“APC has let the people down, especially our youths and rather than giving a wrong political speech on this matter, I thought it would be helpful to invite Nigerians to ask me questions.”
Atiku Back to PDP
With the 2019 elections approaching, Atiku believed the PDP offered a better platform to actualize his long-standing presidential ambition. His return to the PDP was strategic, as the party was undergoing restructuring and preparing to challenge the APC’s hold on power. Atiku positioned himself as a unifying figure and emerged as the PDP’s presidential candidate for the 2019 election but lost at the polls to Buhari.
In 2023, he also emerged as the Presidential candidate of PDP but lost again to President Bola Tinubu. His emergence as the PDP candidate angered many southern leaders who felt it violated the party’s zoning principle, leading to the rebellion of another G5 Governors led by Nyesom Wike, who refused to back his campaign.
Similarly, Peter Obi’s defection to the Labour Party(LP) removed a big chunk of votes from PDP’s traditional support base in the South-East and South-South. In the North, he faced stiff competition from Rabiu Kwankwaso (NNPP) and Bola Tinubu (APC) in the South West.
Public perception of Atiku as a serial contestant with no fresh appeal, combined with wave of ‘Obidient movement’ also affected his chances.
The PDP is yet to recover from the 2023 election loss as Wike who felt slighted on how Atiku manipulated the party’s presidential primary and choice of running mate, quickly hijacked the structure of the party, divided the loyalty of National Working Committee members and ensure that Atiku grip on the party is reduced by the day.
Atiku Eyes ADC
Frustrated by his lack of control over the party and uncertain about the presidential ticket in 2027, Atiku started to mobilize aggrieved politicians into a mega coalition anchored by the African Democratic Congress (ADC). The coalition chaired by former Senate President, David Mark and former governor of Osun State, Rauf Aregbesola as Secretary, attracted former governors Peter Obi (Anambra), Nasiru El-Rufai (Kaduna), Liyel Imoke (Sokoto) and Gabriel Suswan (Benue), among others.
Atiku recently resigned from the PDP. In a resignation letter, Atiku wrote, “I find it necessary to part ways due to the current trajectory the Party has taken, which I believe diverges from the foundational principles we stood for.
“It is with a heavy heart that I resign, recognizing the irreconcilable differences that have emerged.
“As a founding father of this esteemed Party, it is indeed heartbreaking for me to make this decision” he wrote.
Reactions Trail Atiku’s political Maneuverings
Condemnation and commendations have continued to trail Atiku’s recent move out from the PDP.
Senator Adams Oshiomhole (APC, Edo North) described him as the most prominent political defector in Nigeria’s history, suggesting that he is best suited to author a book on the subject.
“Let me remind you that those who started defection, the most popular one in the history of Nigeria is His Excellency, Atiku Abubakar.
“I think the best person who can write a book on why people decamp should be the former vice-president, Atiku Abubakar.
“It would be nice to ask him, as a sitting vice president, you left your party and you were courted by no state at all.”
Deputy National Publicity Secretary of PDP, Ibrahim Abdullahi, described Atiku’s exit from PDP as good riddance to bad rubbish.
Narrating how Atiku caused irreparable damage to the party, he said, “We saw the exit of Peter Obi. We saw the exit of Kwankwaso. We saw the exit of five governors led by Nyesom Wike from his presidential campaign. And if all of that did not count as negligence on the part of the presidential flag bearer, I don’t know what other adjective you will use to describe the act.
“In 2027, he is also nursing presidential ambition still within the party, PDP. So he knows that it will be a very Herculean task going forward to still have our party’s ticket on three consecutive terms since he is not the only person in the PDP. So it is following this realization that he is now thinking of a coalition.
“We are wishing them well, but as for leaving the PDP, it is good riddance to bad rubbish. PDP is not losing any sleep, and there is not a single member of this PDP who would think he is indispensable. PDP is not built around individuals. It is an institution”.
But a media aide to the former Vice President, Olademeji Fabiyi exclusively told pontblanknews.com that most politicians had in recent past, moved from one party to the other. He argued that the need to provide good governance is the force behind Atiku’s defections.
“Moving from party to party to me is not an issue because what is more important is governance, how to get our governance right, how to get our democracy working.
“And secondly, if you look at our Nigeria political space today, tell me that person that has not moved from one party to the other. Is it current president who was in SDP with Atiku at the same time? Then while Atiku went to PDP, he went to AD. From AD, he moved to AC, to ACN and today he is in APC.
“Is it our late president that just died, may God rest his soul, who moved from ANPP to CPC and to APC. Is it Peter Obi from APGA, to PDP to Labour? So if he decides to join ADC now, it’s not an issue.
“What Atiku is preoccupied with is about how to get our governance and our democracy right”.
With Nigeria’s political landscape increasingly leaning toward alliances, Atiku is leveraging his experience and influence to unite opposition forces, including the PDP, Labour Party, and other regional stakeholders to pick the presidential ticket of the ADC in 2026. If he manages to build consensus and inspire voter confidence, he could play a decisive role either as a candidate or kingmaker in the next election cycle.