Popularly known as “Abba,” the younger Atiku announced his resignation from the PDP and alignment with the APC, describing the move as both historic and personal.
Abba Abubakar, son of former Vice President and 2023 Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has defected from the PDP to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), declaring support for President Bola Tinubu’s second-term bid in 2027.
The defection was announced on Thursday at the National Assembly complex in Abuja, where Abba was formally received by the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau Jibrin, alongside other top APC figures from the North-East geopolitical zone.
Popularly known as “Abba,” the younger Atiku announced his resignation from the PDP and alignment with the APC, describing the move as both historic and personal.
He also ordered members of his political structure, the Haske Atiku Organisation, which he founded in 2022, to immediately defect to the APC and begin mobilisation for President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
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 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 the APC and work for President Tinubu.”
Welcoming him into the ruling party, the APC National Vice Chairman (North-East), Mustapha Salihu, described the defection as symbolic and far-reaching, claiming it marked 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 added that the APC was driven by ideology and policy direction, assuring Abba of equal rights and opportunities within the party.
In his remarks, Senator Barau described Abba’s defection as a “bold, wise and principled decision,” insisting it was not influenced by family ties.
Barau said, “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.”
The Deputy President of the Senate claimed that Abba, who had been following political developments from the United States, was impressed by the Tinubu administration’s reforms, which influenced his return to Nigeria and decision to join the APC.
Also speaking, a presidential aide, Alhaji Mahmoud Abdullahi, assured Abba of President Tinubu’s acceptance within the party.
He said, “Just like Atiku, Tinubu is also your father. Your decision is like returning home. You and your coordinators have a future in this party.”
Speaking on behalf of the defecting group, the Kano State coordinator, Hon. Mubarak Musa, said all political activities of the group would now be coordinated through Senator Barau.
Musa said, “We have worked around the clock for our former platform. We will double our efforts and deliver for the APC in 2027.”