Abba Atiku Abubakar, son of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, has defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), pledging to mobilise support for the re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Abba Atiku was formally received on Thursday evening in Abuja by the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau Jibrin, and the APC National Vice Chairman (North-East), Mallam Mustapha Salihu.
Announcing his defection, Abba declared his resignation from the PDP and full alignment with the APC, describing the move as both personal and historic. He also unveiled the renaming of his political group to the Haske Bola Tinubu Organisation, formerly known as the Atiku Haske Organisation, which was established in 2022.
He directed all coordinators and members of the organisation to immediately join the APC and support President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
“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,” he said.
Abba attributed his decision to what he described as the leadership qualities of Senator Barau Jibrin and the performance of the Tinubu administration, adding that he would work closely with the Deputy Senate President to actualise the President’s second-term bid in 2027.
“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 stated.
Welcoming him into the party, the APC National Vice Chairman (North-East), Mallam Mustapha Salihu, described the defection as symbolic and far-reaching, noting that it underscored what he called “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 congratulated Abba on the decision, describing it as bold, wise and principled, and a major boost to the APC’s consolidation efforts ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“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.
He disclosed that Abba, who had been following political developments from the United States, was impressed by the administration’s reforms and outreach initiatives, which influenced his return to Nigeria and decision to join the ruling party.
Also speaking, a presidential aide, Alhaji Mahmoud Abdullahi, assured Abba of President Tinubu’s acceptance and support, describing the defection as a homecoming.
“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.
Speaking on behalf of the organisation, the Kano State Coordinator, Hon. Mubarak Musa, described the defection as strategic, adding that the group’s 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 a key pillar of the party in the North.
