Paul Ibe, media adviser to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, has revealed that the widely circulated resignation letter of his principal from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was never meant for public release.
Speaking during an appearance on Arise News on Wednesday night, Ibe alleged that the letter—dated July 14, 2025—was deliberately leaked by elements within the PDP working in collusion with members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
“We’re here because people who never wished His Excellency Atiku Abubakar well leaked a communication of his. Yes, it was leaked. It is the handiwork of rogue elements in the PDP working in cahoots with APC members,” Ibe said.
He also criticized the timing of the leak, which emerged barely a day after the funeral of former President Muhammadu Buhari, calling it a calculated move to stir political controversy and distract national attention during a mourning period.
Earlier, Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, had condemned Atiku for allegedly publicizing his resignation during a time of national grief, calling it “insensitive.” Keyamo also questioned the use of Nigeria’s coat of arms on the letterhead, arguing that Atiku, no longer a government official, had no authority to use it.
In response, Ibe rebuked the minister, advising him to prioritize urgent issues in Nigeria’s aviation sector. “It’s unfortunate that the Minister of Aviation, who should be concerned with issues like runways and aviation infrastructure, is instead politicizing a private matter,” he said.
Atiku’s letter cited “irreconcilable differences” and the PDP’s alleged deviation from its founding principles as the reasons for his resignation. Though the letter has stirred wide reactions, his team insists it was intended to remain private.
