Why did you leave the PDP to join the APC?
I was frustrated that the PDP would not enthrone internal democracy as part of its policy, so I parted ways with the party I had helped found and joined the progressives under the APC. When I lost the APC presidential primaries to Muhammadu Buhari, I conceded defeat without hesitation. I then put my support behind his campaign, working with other stakeholders in the APC toward that election's victory, and my support for his success continued long after.
Where this comes from
p. 1 PhD Honoris Causa, Federal University of Petroleum Resources Effurun Atiku Abubakar: Official biography 2026-10-02 ›
Holding both a Royal Society of Health and a Law degree, he was an early promoter of the People's Democratic Movement (PDM), the progenitor of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), as he pursued a career both in public and private life, culminating in his being twice elected as Vice President of Nigeria, always refusing to serve in Nigeria's military dictatorships.
Frustrated with the inability of the PDP to enthrone internal democracy as an integral party policy, Atiku parted ways with the party he had helped found to pitch tent with the progressives under the umbrella of the All Progressives Congress (APC). Having lost to President Muhammadu Buhari and conceded defeat in the contest for the party's presidential primaries, Atiku Abubakar has left no one in doubt as to why he is a democrat par excellence. He deployed his assets to the then Buhari presidential campaign, working in concert with other stakeholders in the APC to a resounding electoral victory. Long after that historic election, his support to the success of President Buhari is unassailable.