Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has reacted to the decision of one of his sons to dump him and join the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to work for the re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027.
Atiku’s son, Abubakar popularly known as Abba, was received into the APC on Thursday at the National Assembly Complex by the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau Jibrin, alongside key APC leaders from the North-East geopolitical zone.
Speaking at the event, Abba declared full alignment with the APC, describing the moment as both historic and personal.
He also directed all coordinators and members of the political organisation he founded in 2022, formerly known as the Haske Atiku Organisation, to immediately align with the APC and support President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
At the event, Abba’s political organisation, Haske Atiku, was officially renamed the Haske Bola Tinubu Organisation, signalling a complete realignment of its structure and operations.
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 Jibrin.
“With this development, I will work with Senator Barau to actualise the second term bid of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. GCFR come to 2027. To this effect, I’m directing all coordinators of my association, to join APC and work for President Tinubu.”
However, commenting on his son’s move to work for President Tinubu, who defeated him as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in 2023, Atiku, who is also the African Democratic Congress (ADC) Presidential hopeful said the decision was personal.
“The decision of my son, Abba Abubakar, to join the APC is entirely personal. In a democracy, such choices are neither unusual nor alarming, even when family and politics intersect.”
“As a democrat, I do not coerce my own children in matters of conscience, and I certainly will not coerce Nigerians. What truly concerns me is the poor governance of the APC and the severe economic and social hardships it has imposed on our people.
“I remain resolute in working with like-minded patriots to restore good governance and offer Nigerians a credible alternative that brings relief, hope, and progress. “
Welcoming Abba into the party, the APC National Vice Chairman (North-East), Comrade Mustapha Salihu, described the defection as symbolic and far-reaching, noting that it reflected “politics without borders.”
“Today is one of my happiest days. This young man 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 APC.
Senator Barau on his part congratulated Abba on what party leaders described as a major boost to the APC’s consolidation drive ahead of the 2027 general elections, describing the move as bold, wise and principled.
“You have taken a decision based on ideology. You did not come here because of your father. You came because you believe in President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, his ideology and the Renewed Hope Agenda,” Barau said.
Speaking on behalf of the group, Kano State Coordinator of the organisation, Hon. Mubarak Musa, described the defection as strategic, stressing that their political activities 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, describing Senator Barau as their political leader and a pillar of the party in the North.
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