Abba Atiku Abubakar, son of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, has defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) to mobilise support for the re-election of President Bola Tinubu.
Abba formally joined the ruling party on Thursday evening in Abuja, where he was received by Barau Jibrin, deputy senate president, and Mustafa Salihu, APC national vice-chairman for the north-east.
Defection and Rebranding of Political Group
At the event, Abba announced the renaming of his political organisation from the Atiku Haske Organisation, established in 2022, to the Haske Bola Tinubu Organisation.
He directed coordinators and members of his political structure to immediately join the APC and begin mobilisation for Tinubu’s renewed hope agenda ahead of the 2027 general election.
“My name is Abubakar Atiku Abubakar, popularly known as Abba. I am here today to formally announce my exit from my former party, where we worked in 2023, and my decision to join the APC,” he said.
Abba said he would work closely with the deputy senate president to actualise Tinubu’s second-term bid.
“With this development, I will work with Senator Barau to ensure the re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027,” he said.
APC Welcomes Abba Atiku
Welcoming him into the party, Salihu described the defection as symbolic and far-reaching, saying it reflected the APC’s focus on ideology and governance rather than personal ambition.
“This is one of my happiest days. We are looking beyond old social and political cleavages,” Salihu said, adding that Abba was assured of equal rights and opportunities within the party.
In his remarks, Barau congratulated Abba, describing his decision as bold and principled.
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“You did not come here because of your father. You came because you believe in President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, his ideology and the renewed hope agenda,” Barau said.
He added that Abba, who had been following political developments from the United States, was impressed by the reforms and outreach of the Tinubu administration.
Atiku Reacts: ‘My Son’s Decision Is Personal’
Reacting to the defection, former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar said his son’s decision to join the APC was based on personal conviction and not influenced by him.
“The decision of my son, Abba Abubakar, to join the APC is entirely personal,” Atiku wrote in a post on X on Friday.
“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.”
Atiku, now a member of the opposition African Democratic Congress (ADC), said his focus remains on the performance of the ruling party.
“What truly concerns me is the poor governance of the APC and the severe economic and social hardships it has imposed on our people,” he said.
“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.”
Atiku’s Political Journey and 2027 Outlook
In the 2023 presidential election, Atiku polled 6,984,520 votes on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), while Tinubu won with 8,794,726 votes.
Atiku, who was the PDP’s presidential candidate in the 2019 and 2023 elections, lost first to former President Muhammadu Buhari and later to Tinubu, both of the APC.
He resigned from the PDP two months ago following a prolonged internal dispute involving the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and other party leaders. His exit coincided with the formal recognition of the David Mark-led ADC by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The ADC formally welcomed Atiku into its fold last November, describing his entry as a boost to the opposition coalition. The party has since announced preparations for the 2027 general elections, unveiling its national headquarters and plans to commence membership registration ahead of congresses and a national convention.
Meanwhile, the APC has continued to record defections from opposition parties and recently commenced an electronic registration and revalidation exercise nationwide. The party says the exercise is expected to significantly expand its verified membership base ahead of the 2027 polls.
Rafiyat Sadiq is a political, justice, and human rights reporter with Pinnacle Daily, known for fearless reporting and impactful storytelling. At Pinnacle Daily, she brings clarity and depth to issues shaping governance, democracy, and the protection of citizens’ rights.
