Adamawa PDP Says Atiku’s Exit, Good Riddance

The Adamawa State chapter of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, has dismissed claims that the exit of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar from the party could spell doom for the party in the state.

A chieftain of the PDP in the state who doubles as its organising secretary Hamza Madagali, told Punch that Abubakar will not be missed, adding that the party’s structure is bigger than any individual.

Adamawa is controlled by the PDP as the ruling party but Governor Umaru  Fintiri, a former ally of Abubakar had lately  joined the faction led by the FCT minister, Nyesom Wike to fight the former Vice President.

Some analysts even posit that Governor Fintiri may be rooting for the re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who Wike is working for to come back to office in 2027.

The development, sources said forced Abubakar out of the party, after realising that his presidential ambition is seriously endangered with Governor Fintiri and Wike in tow with the Tinubu’s re-election bid.

According to those watching the politics of the state closely, the fortunes of the party in the state could nosedive considering that Abubakar, a big fish in the PDP, as one of its founding fathers, and until recently a strong member and financier, had left.

Abubakar, had recently resigned officially from the PDP to join the African Democratic Congress, ADC, citing the fact that the party has been hijacked by money bags. But his opponents had replied him, saying he left because his influence has been whittled down, by forces stronger than him, and the possibility of him securing the party’s ticket for the 2027 presidential election has become almost impossible.

According to Magadali, only three officials of the PDP in the state of the 286 state executives cuting across the local governments and wards, decided to join Abubakar in the ADC, adding that their exit will not affect the party’s chances in the 2027 election.

He said, “The Jada Local Government PDP chairman, the women leader, and one other ward executive member were the only three that joined the former vice president in his new party,

“Adamawa PDP shares have been over subscribed by the people, so collapsing such a great institution built by people is not an individual task.”

In a letter dated July 14 and addressed to the chairman of the PDP in his Jada 1 Ward, Jada Local Government Area of Adamawa State, Abubakar said his resignation was based on the fact that the leadership of the party no longer adhere to the principles established by the party’s founding leaders.

“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,” he wrote “It is with a heavy heart that I resign, recognizing the irreconcilable differences that have emerged.”