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 intention to work for the re-election of President Bola Tinubu in 2027.
The defection was announced on Thursday at the National Assembly, Abuja, and is being regarded in political circles as a symbolic and strategic setback to Atiku Abubakar’s presidential ambition, as well as a significant boost to the APC’s consolidation drive, especially in the North-East.
Popularly known as “Abba,” the younger Atiku was formally received by the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau Jibrin, alongside key APC leaders from the North-East geopolitical zone. Party leaders at the event described the move as a major political realignment.
Addressing party leaders and supporters, Abubakar announced his resignation from the PDP and formally declared his allegiance to the APC, describing the decision as historic and personal. He also directed all coordinators and members of his political structure, 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.
“My name is Abubakar Atiku Abubakar, but everyone calls me 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.
He attributed his decision to the leadership style of the Deputy Senate President, Senator Barau Jibrin, adding, “With this development, I will work with Senator Barau to actualise the second-term bid of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027. To this effect, I am directing all coordinators of my association to join the APC and work for President Tinubu.”
Welcoming him into the party, the APC National Vice Chairman (North-East), Mustapha Salihu, described the defection as symbolic and far-reaching, noting that it signalled a new era of “politics without borders.”
“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,” Salihu said.
He stressed that the APC was driven by ideology and policy direction rather than personal ambition, assuring Abubakar of full rights and equal opportunities within the party.
In his remarks, Senator Barau congratulated Abubakar for what he described as a bold, wise and principled decision, assuring him and his supporters of the party leadership’s support.
“You made this decision based on ideology. You did not come because of your father; you came because you believe in President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, his ideology and the Renewed Hope Agenda,” Barau said.
The Deputy Senate President disclosed that Abubakar, who had been closely monitoring political developments from the United States, was impressed by the reforms and outreach efforts of the Tinubu administration, prompting his return to Nigeria and decision to join the APC.
“He is young, focused and determined to contribute to shaping the future of our country. This is the kind of youth Nigeria needs,” Barau added.
Also speaking, a presidential aide, Alhaji Mahmoud Abdullahi, assured Abubakar of President Tinubu’s acceptance and support within the APC.
“Just like Atiku, Tinubu is also your father. Your decision is like returning home. You and your coordinators have a future in this party,” Abdullahi said.
Speaking on behalf of the defecting group, the Kano State Coordinator, Mubarak Musa, described the move as strategic, noting that all political activities of the group would now be coordinated through Senator Barau.
“We have worked tirelessly for our former platform. We will double our efforts and deliver for the APC in 2027,” Musa said, describing Senator Barau as their political father and a key pillar of the APC in the North.
The event’s high point was the formal renaming of Abba’s political platform from the Haske Atiku Organisation to the Haske Bola Tinubu Organisation, signalling a complete political realignment and an open declaration of support for President Tinubu’s second-term bid ahead of 2027.
Elijah Adeyemi
