Abubakar Atiku Abubakar, 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), pledging to work for the re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027.
The defection was announced on Thursday at the National Assembly, Abuja, where Abubakar, popularly known as Abba, was formally received by the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau Jibrin, alongside top APC leaders from the North-East.
Political observers have described the move as symbolic and strategic, seen as a boost for the APC’s consolidation efforts in the North-East and a potential setback to Atiku Abubakar’s future presidential ambition.
Addressing party leaders and supporters, Abba announced his resignation from the PDP and declared his full alignment with the APC, describing the decision as historic and personal.
“My name is Abubakar Atiku Abubakar, but everyone calls me Abba. I am here today to formally announce my exit from my former party and my decision to join the APC,” he said.
He attributed his defection to what he described as the leadership qualities of Senator Barau Jibrin and the performance of President Tinubu’s administration.
“With this development, I will work with Senator Barau to actualise the second-term bid of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027,” he said.
Abba also directed members and coordinators of his political structure, the Haske Atiku Organisation, which he founded in 2022, to immediately defect to the APC and mobilise support for the President’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Welcoming him into the party, APC National Vice Chairman (North-East), Mustapha Salihu, described the defection as far-reaching and symbolic of a new era of “politics without borders.”
“This young man has seen the policies and programmes of the Tinubu administration and decided to align with them,” Salihu said, assuring him of equal rights and opportunities within the party.
In his remarks, Senator Barau congratulated Abba for what he called a “bold and principled decision,” stressing that the move was based on ideology rather than family influence.
“You did not come here because of your father. You came because you believe in President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Renewed Hope Agenda,” Barau said.
He disclosed that Abba, who had been following political developments from the United States, was impressed by the reforms of the Tinubu administration, which influenced his decision to return to Nigeria and join the APC.
A presidential aide, Alhaji Mahmoud Abdullahi, also assured Abba of President Tinubu’s acceptance and support within the party.
“Just like Atiku, Tinubu is also your father. You are welcome home,” Abdullahi said.
Speaking on behalf of the defecting group, Kano State Coordinator Mubarak Musa said all political activities of the group would now be coordinated under Senator Barau, pledging total commitment to the APC ahead of 2027.
The event reached its climax with the formal renaming of Abba’s political structure from Haske Atiku Organisation to Haske Bola Tinubu Organisation, signalling a complete political realignment and open support for President Tinubu’s second-term bid.
