Abubakar Atiku Abubakar, son of former Vice President and 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has defected from the PDP to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), declaring his support for the re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027.
Abba, popularly known as Abba, was formally welcomed into the APC by the Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin and other party leaders from the North-East geo-political zone at the National Assembly Complex on Thursday.
Party officials described the defection as a significant boost to the APC's consolidation efforts ahead of the next general elections.
Speaking at the event, Abba announced his resignation from the PDP and pledged full allegiance to the APC, describing the move as a personal and historical decision.
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He directed all coordinators and members of his political outfit, the Haske Atiku Organization established in 2022, to immediately join forces with the APC and work for President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
“I am here today to formally announce my decision to exit my former party and join the APC,” he said, adding that he would work closely with Senator Barau to realize President Tinubu’s bid for a second term.
Welcoming him, APC National Vice Chairman (North-East) Mustapha Salihu described the defection as symbolic and said it reflected confidence in “politics without boundaries” and the policies of the Tinubu administration.
Similarly, Senator Barau congratulated Abba for a bold and principled decision, noting that it was motivated by ideology rather than family ties.
He revealed that Abba, who was following developments in the United States, was impressed by the reforms of Tinubu's administration.
The highlight of the event was the changing of the name of Abba's group from Haske Atiku Organization to Haske Bola Tinubu Organization, indicating a complete political realignment before 2027.
But reacting, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar said his son's decision to join the APC was a personal choice that does not reflect his own political stance or commitment to providing an alternative platform for Nigerians.
Atiku, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) chieftain, gave this clarification following reports that his son Abba Abubakar had defected from the PDP to the APC, citing leadership challenges within the opposition party.
Responding via his social media platforms, Atiku insisted that his son's political decision was taken independently.
“The decision of my son Abba Abubakar to join the APC is purely personal,” he said.
The former Vice President, who himself left the PDP for the ADC last year, said divergent political choices within families are not unusual in a democratic setting. He emphasized that democracy thrives on freedom of choice and conscience.
He said, “In a democracy, such choices are neither unusual nor worrisome, even when family and politics collide. As a Democrat, I do not coerce my children in matters of conscience and I certainly will not coerce Nigerians.”
However, Atiku reiterated his criticism of the APC-led government and accused it of implementing harsh economic policies that have worsened the living conditions of Nigerians.
