Paul Ibe, media adviser to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, says the resignation letter of his principal, quitting the Peoples Democratic Party, was leaked.

Abubakar’s resignation letter, dated July 14, surfaced online on Wednesday.

Festus Keyamo, minister of aviation and aerospace development, had criticised Atiku for making the resignation letter public during the national mourning period for ex-President Muhammadu Buhari.

Buhari, who died on Sunday at a London clinic, United Kingdom (UK), was buried on Tuesday in Daura, Katsina state.

President Bola Tinubu declared a seven-day national mourning in honour of Buhari.

Keyamo also faulted Atiku for using a coat of arms letterhead to announce his resignation from the opposition party, saying the former vice-president is not a government official.

Speaking on Wednesday, when he featured on News Night, an Arise Television programme, Ibe said the resignation letter was leaked by “rogue elements” in the PDP.

“People who never wished his excellency Atiku Abubakar well leaked a communication of his,” Ibe said, referring to the letter.

“It’s unfortunate that the minister of aviation, who should be concerned with aviation matters and plenty of them — runways and better infrastructure — would jump into the fray.

“It is like knowing what caused an accident even before the investigation.

“Rogue elements in the PDP, working in cahoots with the APC members, leaked that communication, which is why we are having this conversation.”

Atiku, who is eyeing the presidency, is a member of the opposition coalition that has adopted the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as its platform for the 2027 elections.