By Samuel Adeola
Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has described the resignation of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), as a form of “liberation” for the party, stating that it is better for internal obstacles to give way than to hold the party back.
Atiku, the PDP’s presidential candidate in the 2023 general election, officially announced his exit from the party in a letter dated July 14, 2025, addressed to the PDP chairman in Jada 1 Ward, Adamawa State.
In the letter, Atiku said the party had strayed from its founding ideals, describing his decision to leave as “painful.”
His resignation comes shortly after he aligned with a coalition of opposition leaders who have adopted the African Democratic Congress (ADC), as their new political platform ahead of the 2027 elections.
Speaking in Akure during the 10th Coronation Anniversary Colloquium of the Deji of Akure, Oba Aladetoyinbo Ogunlade Aladelusi, Governor Makinde said Atiku’s departure poses no threat to the PDP.
“Politics is a game of interest. I don’t think Atiku’s exit will make any dent on the PDP. The PDP is an institution,” Makinde stated. “You have the freedom to come and go. But if someone is going to hold the PDP down, it’s better for that person to leave.”
He also dismissed concerns about the growing influence of the ADC, asserting that political competition is healthy in a democracy.
“I don’t see the ADC as a threat to the PDP. If you’re dissatisfied with the pace or direction of governance, you’re free to associate with any platform,” he added.
Makinde concluded by emphasizing the enduring nature of national and institutional structures, saying, “Governors will come and go, presidents will come and go, but our country and our states will remain.”
