The All Progressives Congress (APC) has recorded a major political boost following the defection of Abubakar Atiku Abubakar, son of former Vice President and 2023 Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, to the ruling party.
Popularly known as Abba, Abubakar formally announced his resignation from the PDP and his decision to join the APC at the National Assembly on Wednesday, where he was received by the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau Jibrin, alongside other APC leaders from the North-East.
Party leaders described the defection as a significant gain for the APC ahead of the 2027 general elections, citing Abba’s political network, grassroots structure, and organisational strength.
Announcing his defection, Abba said his decision was guided by his belief in the leadership of Senator Barau and the policies of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration.
“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 pledged to work actively for President Tinubu’s re-election, directing members and coordinators of his political structure—formerly known as the Haske Atiku Organisation—to immediately align with the APC and support the Renewed Hope Agenda.
“With this development, I will work with Senator Barau to actualise the second-term bid of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. To this effect, I am directing all coordinators of my association to join the APC and work for President Tinubu,” he added.
Welcoming him into the party, the APC National Vice Chairman (North-East), Comrade Mustapha Salihu, described the move as symbolic and far-reaching.
“Today is one of my happiest days. This is politics without borders. He has seen the policies and programmes of the Tinubu administration and decided to align with them,” Salihu said, assuring Abba of equal rights and opportunities within the party.
Senator Barau congratulated Abba for what he described as a bold and principled decision, stressing that the defection was driven by ideology rather than personal ties.
“You didn’t come here because of who your father is. You came because you believe in President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, his ideology and the Renewed Hope Agenda,” Barau said.
The Deputy Senate President revealed that Abba, who had been closely monitoring political developments from the United States, was impressed by the administration’s ongoing reforms, which influenced his return to Nigeria and eventual defection.
A presidential aide, Alhaji Mahmoud Abdullahi, described Abba’s move as a homecoming, assuring him of President Tinubu’s support.
“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 group, Kano State Coordinator of the organisation, Hon. Mubarak Musa, said the defection was strategic, noting that all political activities of the group would now be coordinated through Senator Barau.
“We have worked round the clock for our former platform. We will double our efforts and deliver for the APC in 2027,” Musa said.
The highlight of the event was the renaming of Abba’s political organisation from the Haske Atiku Organisation to the Haske Bola Tinubu Organisation, signalling a complete realignment ahead of the 2027 elections.
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2026-01-15
