Abubakar Atiku Abubakar, popularly known as Abba, son of former Vice President and 2023 Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has defected from the PDP to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), declaring his commitment to work for the re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027.
The defection was formally announced on Thursday at the National Assembly, Abuja, and has since generated widespread political reactions, especially within the North-East geopolitical zone, where both the Abubakar family and the APC command strong political influence.
Abba was received into the APC by the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau Jibrin, alongside other top party leaders from the region.
Party stakeholders described the development as a major political realignment and a significant boost to the APC’s consolidation drive in the North-East.
Addressing party leaders and supporters, Abba announced his resignation from the PDP and declared his full allegiance to the APC, describing the decision as historic and personal.
He said: “My name is Abubakar Atiku Abubakar, but everyone calls me Abba. I am here today to formally announce my exit from the party where we worked in 2023 and my decision to join the APC.
“Today, I’m here to formally announce my exit from my former party to the APC following the outstanding leadership style and quality of His Excellency, the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau I Jibrin.
“With this development, I will work with Senator Barau to actualise the second term bid of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu come 2027. To this effect, I’m directing all coordinators of my association to join APC and work for President Tinubu.”
Abba also ordered all coordinators and members of his political structure, formerly known as the Haske Atiku Organisation, which he founded in 2022, to immediately defect to the APC and mobilise support for President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Welcoming him into the party, the APC National Vice Chairman (North-East), Mustapha Salihu, described the defection as symbolic and far-reaching, saying it marked a new era of “politics without borders.”
Salihu said: “Today is one of my happiest days. We are looking beyond old social and political cleavages. This young man has seen the policies and programmes of the Tinubu administration and decided to align with them.”
He added that the APC was driven by ideology and policy direction, not personal ambition, and assured Abba of full rights and equal opportunities within the party.
In his remarks, Senator Barau congratulated Abba for what he called a bold and principled decision.
Barau said: “You have made a decision based on ideology. You didn’t come here because of your father. You came because you believe in President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, his ideology and the Renewed Hope Agenda.”
The Deputy Senate President further disclosed that Abba had been monitoring political developments from the United States and was impressed by the Tinubu administration’s reforms and outreach efforts, which influenced his decision to return to Nigeria and join the APC.
Atiku Reacts
Reacting to his son’s defection, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar said the decision was entirely personal and not influenced by him.
In a statement, Atiku said: “The decision of my son, Abba Abubakar, to join the APC is entirely personal. In a democracy, such choices are neither unusual nor alarming, even when family and politics intersect.
“As a democrat, I do not coerce my own children in matters of conscience, and I certainly will not coerce Nigerians. What truly concerns me is the poor governance of the APC and the severe economic and social hardships it has imposed on our people.
“I remain resolute in working with like-minded patriots to restore good governance and offer Nigerians a credible alternative that brings relief, hope, and progress.”
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