Abubakar Atiku Abubakar, son of former Vice President and 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, has left the PDP for the ruling All Progressives Congress and declared support for the re-election of President Bola Tinubu in 2027.
The defection took place on Thursday at the National Assembly complex in Abuja. Political observers view the move as a symbolic setback for Atiku Abubakar’s future presidential prospects and a gain for the APC, especially in the North-East.
Widely known as Abba, the younger Atiku was formally received by the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau Jibrin, alongside senior APC leaders from the North-East. Party officials described the development as a notable shift in the region’s political landscape.
While addressing party leaders and supporters, Abba announced his resignation from the PDP and confirmed his decision to pitch his tent with the APC. He described the move as both historic and personal.
He also instructed members and coordinators of his political platform, the Haske Atiku Organisation, which he established in 2022, to join the APC and work in support of President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
He said, “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.
“Today, I’m here to formally announce my exit from my former party to the APC following the outstanding leadership style and quality of His Excellency, the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau I Jibrin.
“With this development, I will work with Senator Barau to actualise the second term bid of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu come 2027. To this effect, I’m directing all coordinators of my association, to join APC and work for President Tinubu.”
In his remarks, the APC National Vice Chairman (North-East), Mustapha Salihu, welcomed Abba into the party and described the defection as symbolic and far-reaching. He said it marked a new phase of “politics without borders.”
Salihu said, “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.”
He added that the APC prioritises ideology and policy direction over personal ambition and assured the new entrant of equal rights within the party.
Senator Barau, who formally received Abba, congratulated him for what he described as a courageous and principled decision. He assured Abba and his supporters of the backing of the party leadership.
Barau said, “You have made a decision based on ideology. You didn’t come here because of your father. You came because you believe in President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, his ideology and the Renewed Hope Agenda.”
The Deputy Senate President further disclosed that Abba had closely monitored political developments while in the United States and was influenced by the Tinubu administration’s reforms and outreach initiatives.
“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 Abba 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.
On behalf of those who defected with him, the Kano State Coordinator, Mubarak Musa, described the decision as strategic. He said all future political activities of the group would be coordinated through Senator Barau.
“We have worked around the clock for our former platform. We will double our efforts and deliver for the APC in 2027,” Musa said.
He also described Senator Barau as their political leader and a key force within the APC in the North.
The event ended with the formal renaming of Abba’s political organisation from Haske Atiku Organisation to Haske Bola Tinubu Organisation. The change signalled a complete political shift and an open declaration of support for President Tinubu’s second-term ambition in 2027.
