The All Progressives Congress (APC) recorded a significant political boost on Tuesday as Abubakar Atiku Abubakar, son of former Vice President and 2023 Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, officially defected from the PDP to the ruling party.
Popularly known as Abba, he announced his defection at the National Assembly, where he was received by the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau Jibrin, alongside APC leaders from the North-East. Party stakeholders described the move as a major gain for the APC ahead of the 2027 general elections, citing Abba’s grassroots structure and political network.
Explaining his decision, Abba said his resignation from the PDP was driven by his belief in the leadership of Senator Barau and the policies and direction of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s 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 closely with Senator Barau to ensure the re-election of President Tinubu in 2027, 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 defection as symbolic and far-reaching, noting that Abba’s decision reflected growing confidence in the Tinubu administration’s programmes and reforms.
“This is politics without borders. He has seen the policies of this administration and decided to align with them,” Salihu said, assuring him of equal rights and opportunities within the party.
Senator Barau congratulated Abba for what he termed a bold and principled move, stressing that the decision was based on ideology rather than sentiment.
“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 following developments from the United States, was impressed by the administration’s reforms, which influenced his return to Nigeria and eventual defection.
“He is young, focused and determined to help shape the future of our country. This is the kind of youth Nigeria needs,” Barau added.
A presidential aide, Alhaji Mahmoud Abdullahi, described Abba’s defection as a homecoming, assuring him of President Tinubu’s support within the party.
Speaking on behalf of the group, Kano State Coordinator, Hon. Mubarak Musa, said the move was strategic, announcing that all activities of the organisation would now be coordinated through Senator Barau ahead of 2027.
The highlight of the event was the renaming of Abba’s political platform from the Haske Atiku Organisation to the Haske Bola Tinubu Organisation, signalling a complete political realignment in support of the APC and President Tinubu’s re-election bid.