Abubakar Atiku Abubakar, son of former Vice President and 2023 Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has defected from the PDP to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), pledging his support for the re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027.
The defection, announced on Thursday at the National Assembly, has drawn significant attention within Nigeria’s political space. Popularly known as “Abba,” he was formally received by the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau Jibrin (APC, Kano North), alongside party leaders from the North-East geopolitical zone.
Speaking at the event, Abba announced his resignation from the PDP and declared his decision to align with the APC, describing the move as personal and historic. He also directed members and coordinators of his political structure, the Haske Atiku Organisation established in 2022, to join the APC and support President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
“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 qualities of Senator Barau Jibrin and what he described as the performance of the Tinubu administration.
“With this development, I will work closely with Senator Barau to actualise the second-term bid of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027. I am also directing all coordinators of my organisation to join the APC and work for the success of President Tinubu,” he added.
Welcoming him into the party, APC National Vice Chairman (North-East), Comrade Mustapha Salihu, described the defection as symbolic and far-reaching, noting that it underscored what he termed “politics without borders.”
“This is a very significant day. This young man has assessed the policies and programmes of the Tinubu administration and has chosen to align with them,” Salihu said, assuring Abba of equal rights and opportunities within the party.
Senator Barau congratulated Abba on what party leaders described as a major boost to the APC’s consolidation efforts ahead of the 2027 general elections, describing the decision as bold and principled.
“You have taken a decision based on ideology, not personal ties. You are here because you believe in President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, his vision and the Renewed Hope Agenda,” Barau said.
He disclosed that Abba, who had been observing political developments from the United States, was influenced by the administration’s reforms and engagement strategies, which informed his decision to return to Nigeria and join the APC.
A presidential aide, Alhaji Mahmoud Abdullahi, assured Abba of President Tinubu’s support, describing the move as a return home and reaffirming that he and his supporters would have a future within the party.
Speaking on behalf of the group, Kano State Coordinator of the organisation, Hon. Mubarak Musa, described the defection as strategic, noting that their political activities would henceforth be coordinated through Senator Barau.
“At the event, Abba’s political organisation, Haske Atiku, was officially renamed the Haske Bola Tinubu Organisation, marking a full realignment of its structure and objectives ahead of the 2027 general elections,” the statement concluded.
