Atiku’s Son Defects to APC, Pledges Support for Tinubu’s Re-election

Abubakar Atiku Abubakar, son of former Vice President and 2023 Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar, has officially defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), pledging to work for the re-election of President Bola Tinubu in 2027.

The defection was announced on Thursday at the National Assembly, Abuja, and is being seen as both a symbolic and strategic blow to Atiku’s presidential ambitions, while providing a major boost to the APC’s consolidation efforts, particularly in the North-East.

Popularly known as “Abba,” Abubakar was formally received by the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau Jibrin, alongside key APC leaders from the North-East geopolitical zone. Party officials described the event as a significant political realignment.

Addressing party leaders and supporters, Abubakar declared his resignation from the PDP and his full alignment with the APC, calling the move both historic and deeply personal.

He directed all coordinators and members of his former political structure, the Haske Atiku Organisation, which he founded in 2022, to immediately join the APC and mobilise support for President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

Abubakar 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.”

Welcoming him, APC National Vice Chairman (North-East), Mustapha Salihu, described the defection as symbolic and far-reaching, signalling 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 stressed that the APC prioritises ideology and policy over personal ambition, assuring Abubakar of full rights and equal opportunities within the party.

Senator Barau also congratulated Abubakar for what he called a “bold, wise and principled decision,” promising maximum support from party leadership.

“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,” Barau said.

Barau revealed that Abubakar, who had been following political developments from the United States, was impressed by the Tinubu administration’s reforms and outreach, prompting his return to Nigeria and decision to join the APC.

“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.

Presidential aide Alhaji Mahmoud Abdullahi assured Abubakar of President Tinubu’s backing. “Just like Atiku, Tinubu is also your father. Your decision is like returning home. You and your coordinators have a future in this party,” he said.

On behalf of the defecting group, Kano State Coordinator Mubarak Musa described the move as strategic, noting that all political activities of the group would now 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, describing Senator Barau as their political father and a key pillar of the APC in the North.

The event’s high point was the formal renaming of Abubakar’s political structure from Haske Atiku Organisation to Haske Bola Tinubu Organisation, signalling a complete political realignment and an open declaration of support for President Tinubu’s second-term bid ahead of 2027.

 

Abubakar Atiku Abubakar, son of former Vice President and 2023 Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar, has officially defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), pledging to work for the re-election of President Bola Tinubu in 2027.

The defection was announced on Thursday at the National Assembly, Abuja, and is being seen as both a symbolic and strategic blow to Atiku’s presidential ambitions, while providing a major boost to the APC’s consolidation efforts, particularly in the North-East.

Popularly known as “Abba,” Abubakar was formally received by the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau Jibrin, alongside key APC leaders from the North-East geopolitical zone. Party officials described the event as a significant political realignment.

Addressing party leaders and supporters, Abubakar declared his resignation from the PDP and his full alignment with the APC, calling the move both historic and deeply personal.

He directed all coordinators and members of his former political structure, the Haske Atiku Organisation, which he founded in 2022, to immediately join the APC and mobilise support for President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

Abubakar 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.”

Welcoming him, APC National Vice Chairman (North-East), Mustapha Salihu, described the defection as symbolic and far-reaching, signalling 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 stressed that the APC prioritises ideology and policy over personal ambition, assuring Abubakar of full rights and equal opportunities within the party.

Senator Barau also congratulated Abubakar for what he called a “bold, wise and principled decision,” promising maximum support from party leadership.

“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,” Barau said.

Barau revealed that Abubakar, who had been following political developments from the United States, was impressed by the Tinubu administration’s reforms and outreach, prompting his return to Nigeria and decision to join the APC.

“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.

Presidential aide Alhaji Mahmoud Abdullahi assured Abubakar of President Tinubu’s backing. “Just like Atiku, Tinubu is also your father. Your decision is like returning home. You and your coordinators have a future in this party,” he said.

On behalf of the defecting group, Kano State Coordinator Mubarak Musa described the move as strategic, noting that all political activities of the group would now 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, describing Senator Barau as their political father and a key pillar of the APC in the North.

The event’s high point was the formal renaming of Abubakar’s political structure from Haske Atiku Organisation to Haske Bola Tinubu Organisation, signalling a complete political realignment and an open declaration of support for President Tinubu’s second-term bid ahead of 2027.