The Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has described the defection of Abba Atiku Abubakar, son of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, to the APC as a major political statement that raises questions about his father’s credibility and political consistency.
In a press statement issued on Saturday, the party said the decision by Abba Atiku to align with the APC, after rejecting what it termed the “ADC platform,” was a significant development in Nigeria’s political landscape.
According to the Lagos APC, the defection carries symbolic weight, arguing that when a political figure’s immediate family member publicly rejects his political direction, it invites broader public scrutiny.
The party criticised Atiku Abubakar’s long political career, describing it as marked by frequent defections and shifting alliances, moving from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the Action Congress (AC), back to the PDP, and more recently to the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
The statement said Abba Atiku’s decision to join the APC represents a “generational rejection” of what it described as recycled politics and prolonged presidential ambition, while also signalling confidence in the APC’s governance record and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
The Lagos APC further argued that leadership credibility begins at home, adding that political figures who struggle to inspire loyalty within their immediate circle may find it difficult to earn the trust of the wider electorate.
Welcoming Abba Atiku into the party, the Lagos APC urged Nigerians to, in its words, “read the handwriting on the wall,” noting that the era of frequent party defections and ideology-free politics was gradually losing relevance.
The statement was signed by the Lagos APC Spokesman, Mogaji (Hon.) Seye Oladejo, and dated January 18, 2026.
