Abubakar Atiku Abubakar, son of former Vice President and 2023 Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has formally defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), pledging to support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027.
Popularly known as “Abba,” the younger Atiku was received on Thursday at the National Assembly by the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau Jibrin, alongside senior APC leaders from the North-East geopolitical zone. Party officials described the defection as a significant boost to the APC’s consolidation efforts ahead of the next general election.
Announcing his decision, Abubakar Atiku Abubakar declared his resignation from the PDP, describing his move to the APC as both historic and deeply personal. He cited the leadership style of Senator Barau and the policies of the Tinubu administration as key factors influencing his decision.
He also directed members and coordinators of his political organisation, formerly known as the Haske Atiku Organisation, founded in 2022, to immediately align with the APC and support President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
“I am here today to formally announce my exit from my former party and my decision to join the APC,” he said. “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 direct all coordinators of my association to join the APC and work for the President.”
Welcoming him into the party, the APC National Vice Chairman (North-East), Comrade Mustapha Salihu, described the defection as symbolic and far-reaching, saying it reflected “politics without borders.”
“Today is one of my happiest days,” Salihu said. “This young man has seen the policies and programmes of the Tinubu administration and decided to align with them.” He assured the new entrant of equal rights and opportunities within the party, stressing that the APC remained driven by ideology and policy rather than personal ambition.
In his remarks, Senator Barau congratulated Abba on what he described as a “bold, wise and principled decision,” assuring him and his supporters of full backing within the party.
“You made this decision based on ideology,” Barau said. “You did not come here because of who your father is, but because you believe in President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Renewed Hope Agenda.”
The Deputy Senate President disclosed that Abba, who had been closely following political developments abroad, was impressed by the administration’s reforms and outreach efforts, prompting his return to Nigeria to join the APC.
“He is young, focused and determined to contribute to shaping the future of our country,” Barau added. “This is the kind of youth Nigeria needs.”
Also speaking, a presidential aide, Alhaji Mahmoud Abdullahi, assured Abba of President Tinubu’s acceptance and support, describing his decision as a “return home.”
On behalf of the group, the Kano State Coordinator, Hon. Mubarak Musa, described the defection as strategic, noting that the group’s political activities would now be coordinated through Senator Barau.
The event’s highlight was the renaming of Abba’s political organisation from Haske Atiku Organisation to Haske Bola Tinubu Organisation, signalling a complete realignment of its structure and mission ahead of the 2027 general election.
